Isophthalates as beta-secretase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

There is provided a series of substituted isophthalates of formula (I) 
                         
or a stereoisomer thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein W, R 3 , R 5  and R 6  as defined herein, their pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use. These novel compounds inhibit the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-secretase and, more specifically, inhibit the production of Aβ-peptide. The present disclosure is directed to compounds useful in the treatment of neurological disorders related to β-amyloid production, such as Alzheimer&#39;s disease and other conditions affected by anti-amyloid activity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Divisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No.11/370,728 filed Mar. 8, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,745,470, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/660,432 filed Mar.10, 2005, now expired.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This patent application provides novel isophthalates compounds havingdrug and bio-affecting properties, their pharmaceutical compositions andmethod of use. In particular, the disclosure is concerned with a seriesof novel isophthalates which are inhibitors of the β-amyloid peptide(β-AP) production, thereby acting to prevent the accumulation of amyloidprotein deposits in the brain and, therefore, are useful in thetreatment of neurological disorders related to β-amyloid production.More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the treatment ofAlzheimer's Disease (AD) and similar diseases.

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disordercharacterized by memory impairment and cognitive dysfunction. AD ischaracterized pathologically by the accumulation of senile (neuritic)plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid deposition in neural tissuesand vessels, synaptic loss, and neuronal death. It is the most commonform of dementia and it now represents the third leading cause of deathafter cardiovascular disorders and cancer. The cost of Alzheimer'sDisease is enormous (in the U.S., greater than $100 billion annually)and includes the suffering of the patients, the suffering of families,and the lost productivity of patients and caregivers. As the longevityof society increases, the occurrence of AD will markedly increase. It isestimated that more than 10 million Americans will suffer from AD by theyear 2020, if methods for prevention and treatment are not found.Currently, AD is estimated to afflict 10% of the population over age 65and up to 50% of those over the age of 85. No treatment that effectivelyprevents AD or reverses the clinical symptoms and underlyingpathophysiology is currently available (for review see Selkoe, D. J.Ann. Rev. Cell Biol., 1994, 10: 373-403).

Histopathological examination of brain tissue derived upon autopsy orfrom neurosurgical specimens in affected individuals reveals theoccurrence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillar tangles in the cerebralcortex of such patients. Similar alterations are observed in patientswith Trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome). Biochemical and immunological studiesreveal that the dominant proteinaceous component of the amyloid plaqueis an approximately 4.2 kilodalton (kD) protein of about 39 to 43 aminoacids. This protein is designated Aβ,β-amyloid peptide, and sometimesβ/A4; referred to herein as Aβ. In addition to its deposition in amyloidplaques, Aβ is also found in the walls of meningeal and parenchymalarterioles, small arteries, capillaries, and sometimes, venules.Compelling evidence accumulated during the last decade reveals that Aβis an internal polypeptide derived from a type 1 integral membraneprotein, termed β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) (Selkoe, D. Physiol.Rev. 2001, 81, 741-766; Wolfe, M. J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 2039-2060).βAPP is normally produced by many cells both in vivo and in culturedcells, derived from various animals and humans. Several proteolyticfragments of APP are generated by proteinases referred to as secretases.A subset of these proteolytic fragments, designated β-amyloid peptide(Aβ), contains 39 to 43 amino acids and is generated by the combinedaction of β-secretase and γ-secretase. β-secretase is a membrane-bound,aspartyl protease that forms the N-terminus of the Aβ peptide. TheC-terminus of the Aβ peptide is formed by γ-secretase, an apparentlyoligomeric complex that includes presenilin-1 and/or presenilin-2.Presenilin-1 and presenilin-2 are polytopic membrane-spanning proteinsthat may contain the catalytic components of γ-secretase (Seiffert, D.;Bradley, J. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2000, 275, 34086-34091).

In addition to AD, excess production and/or reduced clearance of Aβcauses cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) (reviewed in Thal, D.,Gherbremedhin, E. et al., J. Neuropath. Exp. Neuro. 2002, 61, 282-293).In these patients, vascular amyloid deposits cause degeneration ofvessel walls and aneurysms thaFt may be responsible for 10-15%hemorrhagic strokes in elderly patients. As in AD, mutations in the geneencoding Aβ lead to an early onset form of CAA, referred to as cerebralhemorrhage with amyloidosis of the Dutch type, and mice expressing thismutant protein develop CAA that is similar to patients.

A logical approach to reducing Aβ levels is to interfere with the actionof the secretases that are directly involved in the cleavage of APP toAβ. The β-secretase enzyme (BACE) is responsible for cleaving APP andforms the amino-terminus of Aβ, initiating the amyloidogenic pathway.The BACE enzyme is a transmembrane aspartyl protease and was describedin the literature by several independent groups [see Hussain, I. et al.,(1999) Mol. Cell. Neurosci., 14: 419-427; Lin, X. et al., (2000)Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States ofAmerica, 97: 1456-1460; Sinha, S., et al., (1999) Nature (London), 402:537-540; Vassar, R., et al., (1999) Science (Washington, D.C.), 286:735-741; Walsh, D. M. et al., (2002); Wolfe, M. S. (2001); Yan, R. etal., (1999) Nature (London), 402: 533-537].

Removal of BACE activity in mice by gene targeting completely abolishesAβ production [see Luo, Y., et al., (2001) Nature Neuroscience, 4:231-232; Roberds, S. L. et al., (2001) Human Molecular Genetics, 10:1317-1324].

BACE−/− mice also show no detectable negative phenotypes, suggestingthat disruption of BACE-mediated cleavage of APP does not produceadditional undesired effects. This demonstrates that a drug substancecapable of inhibiting β-secretase activity should lower or halt thesynthesis of Aβ and should provide a safe treatment for Alzheimer'sdisease.

International patent application WO 2004/043916, published May 27, 2004,discloses phenylcarboxamide derivatives as beta secretase inhibitors.Related compounds of this type were reported by Stachet et al. in theJournal of Medicinal Chemistry (2004) 47 (26): 6447 and Coburn et al. inthe Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2004) 47 (25): 6117. Isophthalatederivatives substituted with a number of disubstituted acyclic aminefragments have been disclosed in a number of International PCTpublications, including International patent applications WO 2002/02512and WO 2002/02518, both published Jan. 10, 2002. Compounds of this typewere also reported by Horn et al. in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry(2004) 47 (1): 158.

At present there remains an urgent need to develop pharmaceutical agentscapable for effective treatment in halting, slowing, preventing, and/orreversing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Compounds that areeffective inhibitors of beta-secretase, that inhibit beta-secretasemediated cleavage of APP, that are effective inhibitors of Aβ proteinproduction by beta-secretase, and/or are effective in reducing solubleAβ protein, amyloid beta deposits or amyloid beta plaques, are neededfor effective treatment in halting, slowing, preventing, and/orreversing neurological disorders related to Aβ protein production, suchas Alzheimer's disease.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A series of isophthalate derivatives having the formula (I)

or a stereoisomer; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,wherein R₃, R₅, R₆ and W are as defined below are effective inhibitorsof the production of β-amyloid peptide (β-AP) from β-amyloid precursorprotein (β-APP). The pharmacologic action of these compounds makes themuseful for treating conditions responsive to the inhibition of β-AP in apatient; e.g., Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Down's Syndrome. Therapyutilizing administration of these compounds or a pharmaceuticalcomposition containing a therapeutically effective amount of at leastone of these compounds to patients suffering from, or susceptible to,these conditions involves reducing β-AP available for accumulation anddeposition in brains of these patients.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application comprises compounds of formula (I), theirpharmaceutical formulations, and their use in inhibiting β-AP productionin patients suffering from or susceptible to AD or other disordersresulting from β-AP accumulation in brain tissue. The compounds offormula (I) which include stereoisomers and non-toxic pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof have the following formula and meanings:

wherein

-   W is —(CO)—NR₁R₂, —O—C₁₋₆alkyl, —O—C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, or    —O—C₃₋₆cycloalkyl (C₁₋₄alkyl);-   R₁ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl;-   R₂ is C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₆alkenyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl,    C₃₋₆cycloalkyl(C₁₋₄alkyl), phenyl, phenyl(C₁₋₄alkyl), pyridyl or    pyridyl(C₁₋₄alkyl) in which said phenyl and pyridyl are optionally    substituted with the group selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, fluoroC₁₋₄alkyl,    trifluoro C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkoxy, halogen and CN; or R₁ and R₂ are    joined together with the nitrogen to form a 5- or 6-membered ring    optionally substituted by R₄;-   R₃ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₆alkenyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl,    C₃₋₆cycloalkyl(C₁₋₄alkyl), —O—C₁₋₆alkyl, —O—C₃₋₆cycloalkyl,    —O—C₃₋₆cycloalkyl(C₁₋₄alkyl), phenyl, pyridyl, oxazole, thiazole, or    NR₁₂—(CO)—R₁₃ in which Ru₁₂ and R₁₃ are independently C₁₋₆alkyl or    are joined together with the nitrogen to form a 5- or 6-membered    ring;-   R₄ is C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with the group selected from    halogen, OH, CF₃, NH₂ and C₁₋₄alkoxy;-   R₅ is C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl(C₁₋₄alkyl), phenyl    or phenyl(C₁₋₄alkyl) in which each group is optionally substituted    with the group selected from halogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, OH, C₁₋₄alkoxy,    CF₃, CF₂H, OCF₃ and CN;-   R₆ is

-   Y is O, NR₇ or S(O)_(n);-   Z is CH₂, O or S;-   n is 1 or 2;-   R₇ is hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; and-   R₈ and R₉ each are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₃₋₆alkenyl,    C₃₋₆alkynyl, phenyl or pyridyl in which said phenyl and pyridyl are    optionally substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl, fluoroC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkoxy,    halogen or CN; or YR₈ and R₉ are joined together with the carbon to    which they are attached to form a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein Y is    oxygen, and R₈ and R₉ are —CH₂(CH₂)_(n)—O—;    or a nontoxic pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application also provides a method for the treatment oralleviation of disorders associated with β-amyloid peptide, especiallyAlzheimer's Disease, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Down's Syndrome,which comprises administering together with a conventional adjuvant,carrier or diluent a therapeutically effective amount of a compound offormula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

As used herein, the term “Aβ” denotes the protein designatedAβ,β-amyloid peptide, and sometimes β/A4, in the art. Aβ is anapproximately 4.2 kilodalton (kD) protein of about 39 to 43 amino acidsfound in amyloid plaques, the walls of meningeal and parenchymalarterioles, small arteries, capillaries, and sometimes, venules. Theisolation and sequence data for the first 28 amino acids are describedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,829. The 43 amino acid sequence is well known inthe art, see Colin Dingwall, Journal of Clinical Investigation, November2001, 108 (9): 1243-1246; as well as PCT international patentapplication WO 01/92235, published Dec. 6, 2001, herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

The term “APP”, as used herein, refers to the protein known in the artas β amyloid precursor protein. This protein is the precursor for Aβ andthrough the activity of “secretase” enzymes, as used herein, it isprocessed into Aβ. Differing secretase enzymes, known in the art, havebeen designated β secretase, generating the N-terminus of Aβ, αsecretase cleaving around the 16/17 peptide bond in Aβ, and “γsecretases”, as used herein, generating C-terminal Aβ fragments endingat position 38, 39, 40, 42, and 43 or generating C-terminal extendedprecursors which are subsequently truncated to the above polypeptides.

The term “substituted,” as used herein and in the claims, means that anyone or more hydrogens on the designated atom is replaced with aselection from the indicated group, provided that the designated atom'snormal valency is not exceeded, and that the substitution results in astable compound.

As used herein and in the claims, “alkyl” or “alkylene” is intended toinclude both branched and straight-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbongroups having the specified number of carbon atoms; for example, “C₁₋₆alkyl” and “C₁₋₁₀ alkyl” denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 or 1 to 10 carbonatoms. Examples of alkyl include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, pentyl, hexyl,octyl and decyl. Preferred “alkyl” group, unless otherwise specified, is“C₁₋₄ alkyl”. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, “propyl” denotesn-propyl or i-propyl; “butyl” denotes n-butyl, i-butyl, sec-butyl, ort-butyl.

As used herein and in the claims, “alkenyl” or “alkenylene” is intendedto include hydrocarbon chains of either a straight or branchedconfiguration and one or more unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds which mayoccur in any stable point along the chain, for example, “C₂₋₆ alkenyl”include but are not limited to ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl,1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-pentenyl,3-pentenyl, hexenyl, and the like.

As used herein and in the claims, “alkynyl” or “alkynylene” is intendedto include hydrocarbon chains of either a straight or branchedconfiguration and one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds which may occurin any stable point along the chain, for example, “C₂₋₆ alkynyl” includebut not limited to ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-butynyl,2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, and the like.

“Alkoxy” or “alkyloxy” represents an alkyl group as defined above withthe indicated number of carbon atoms attached through an oxygen bridge.Examples of alkoxy include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy,n-propoxy, i-propoxy, n-butoxy, s-butoxy, t-butoxy, n-pentoxy, ands-pentoxy. Preferred alkoxy groups are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy,i-propoxy, n-butoxy, s-butoxy, t-butoxy.

As used herein and in the claims, “halogen” refers to fluoro, chloro,bromo, and iodo. Unless otherwise specified, preferred halogens arefluoro and chloro. “Counterion” is used to represent a small, negativelycharged species such as chloride, bromide, hydroxide, acetate, sulfate,and the like.

“Cycloalkyl” is intended to include saturated ring groups, having thespecified number of carbon atoms. For example, “C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl” denotessuch as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl.

The compounds described herein may have asymmetric centers. An exampleof a preferred stereochemical configuration is the isomer:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, but is not intended to belimited to this example. It is understood, that whether a chiral centerin an isomer is “R” or “S” depends on the chemical nature of thesubstituents of the chiral center. All configurations of compounds ofthe invention are considered part of the invention. Additionally, thecarbon atom to which R₅, OH and OR₈ are attached may describe a chiralcarbon. Compounds of the present disclosure containing an asymmetricallysubstituted atom may be isolated in optically active or racemic forms.It is well known in the art how to prepare optically active forms, suchas by resolution of racemic forms or by synthesis from optically activestarting materials. Mixtures of isomers of the compounds of the examplesor chiral precursors thereof can be separated into individual isomersaccording to methods which are known per se, e.g. fractionalcrystallization, adsorption chromatography or other suitable separationprocesses. Resulting racemates can be separated into antipodes in theusual manner after introduction of suitable salt-forming groupings, e.g.by forming a mixture of diastereosiomeric salts with optically activesalt-forming agents, separating the mixture into diastereomeric saltsand converting the separated salts into the free compounds. Theenantiomeric forms may also be separated by fractionation through chiralhigh pressure liquid chromatography columns. Many geometric isomers ofolefins and the like can also be present in the compounds describedherein, and all such stable isomers are contemplated in the presentinvention. Cis and trans geometric isomers of the compounds of thepresent invention are described and may be isolated as a mixture ofisomers or as separated isomeric forms. All chiral, diastereomeric,racemic forms and all geometric isomeric forms of a structure areintended, unless the specific stereochemistry or isomeric form isspecifically indicated.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer tothose compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are,within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contactwith the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity,irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication,commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

As used herein and in the claims, “pharmaceutically acceptable salts”refer to derivatives of the disclosed compounds wherein the parentcompound is modified by making acid or base salts thereof. Examples ofpharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to,mineral or organic acid salts of basic residues such as amines; alkalior organic salts of acidic residues such as carboxylic acids; and thelike. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts include the conventionalnon-toxic salts or the quaternary ammonium salts of the parent compoundformed, for example, from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids. Forexample, such conventional non-toxic salts include those derived frominorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic,phosphoric, nitric and the like; and the salts prepared from organicacids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic,malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic, maleic, hydroxymaleic,phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, sulfanilic,2-acetoxybenzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethanedisulfonic, oxalic, isethionic, and the like.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present application can besynthesized from the parent compound which contains a basic or acidicmoiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, such salts can beprepared by reacting the free acid or base forms of these compounds witha stoichiometric amount of the appropriate base or acid in water or inan organic solvent, or in a mixture of the two; generally, nonaqueousmedia like ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, isopropanol, or acetonitrileare preferred. Lists of suitable salts are found in Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, 17th ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa.,1985, p. 1418, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

In the method of the present application, the term “therapeuticallyeffective amount” means the total amount of each active component of themethod that is sufficient to show a meaningful patient benefit, i.e.,healing of acute conditions characterized by inhibition of β-amyloidpeptide production. When applied to an individual active ingredient,administered alone, the term refers to that ingredient alone. Whenapplied to a combination, the term refers to combined amounts of theactive ingredients that result in the therapeutic effect, whetheradministered in combination, serially or simultaneously. The terms“treat, treating, treatment” as used herein and in the claims meanspreventing or ameliorating diseases associated with β-amyloid peptide.

The compounds of the present application can be prepared in a number ofways well known to one skilled in the art of organic synthesis. Thecompounds of the present application can be synthesized using themethods described below, together with synthetic methods known in theart of synthetic organic chemistry, or variations thereon as appreciatedby those skilled in the art. Preferred methods include, but are notlimited to, those described below. All references cited herein arehereby incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

The novel compounds may be prepared using the reactions and techniquesdescribed in this section. The reactions are performed in solventsappropriate to the reagents and materials employed and are suitable forthe transformations being effected. Also, in the description of thesynthetic methods described below, it is to be understood that allproposed reaction conditions, including choice of solvent, reactionatmosphere, reaction temperature, duration of the experiment and workupprocedures, are chosen to be the conditions standard for that reaction,which should be readily recognized by one skilled in the art. It isunderstood by one skilled in the art of organic synthesis that thefunctionality present on various portions of the molecule must becompatible with the reagents and reactions proposed. Such restrictionsto the substituents which are compatible with the reaction conditionswill be readily apparent to one skilled in the art and alternate methodsmust then be used.

In general, compounds of the invention represented by formula (I)(General Reaction Scheme A) can be prepared by coupling, under standardconditions known to one skilled in the art, a substituted isophthalateof formula 2 and a substituted cyclic diaminopropane. Methods for thesynthesis of functionalized isophthalates of formula 2 are known in theart and are disclosed in a number of references including but notlimited to those given below. The synthesis of substituted cyclicdiaminopropanes is novel and is disclosed in detail in the discussiongiven below.

Compounds of the present invention may be also prepared by coupling anisophthalate intermediate such as formula 2a (Scheme B) to the cyclicdiaminopropane 3b, followed by elaboration of the isophthalate, followedby deprotection, as is shown in general Reaction Scheme B.

Functionalized isophthalic acid derivatives of formula 15 can beprepared in a number of ways known to those skilled in the art.Synthesis of a large variety of such intermediates is described ininternational patent application WO 2002/02512 A2. A versatilepreparation of these intermediates begins with commercialmonomethyl-5-nitroisophthalate. Reduction of the nitro group withcatalytic hydrogenation followed by diazotization and trapping withbromine provides the aryl bromide of formula 12. Treatment of this acidwith an amine

and any of a large number of coupling agents, includingcarbonyldiimidazole, a carbodiimide coupling agent, or HATU provides theamide product 13. This amide can then be functionalized by coupling anyof a number of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or heteroaryl metal derivatives,including tin reagents, boronates, or zinc halides using a source ofpalladium according to the general protocols of Stille, Suzuki, orNegishi respectively. These are standard, extremely versatile reactionsknown to those skilled in the art. Similarly, a variety ofamine-containing substrates can be coupled to the aryl bromide using theprotocols of Buchwald and/or Hartwig. Saponification of the resultingesters to the acid affords substituted isophthalic acid derivatives thatcan be coupled with cyclic diaminopropanes of type 3b.

Additional examples of isophthalates containing ether substituents canbe prepared using the general method described in Scheme 2, andadditionally demonstrated in international patent application WO2003/106405. Thus, monoalkylation of methyl 3,5-dihydroxybenzoateprovides the monosubstituted ether of formula 17. A second alkylationcan then be used to install a second ether group, followed bysaponification to the desired acid 19.

Alternatively, one ether substituent and a second substituent can beintroduced, as is shown in Scheme 3. Thus, 3-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzoic acidcan be alkylated to provide the aryl ether of formula 21. Reduction ofthe nitro group to the amine provides intermediate 22, which can bealkylated or acylated by ways known to those skilled in the art toprovide alkyl amines or amides. Alternatively, the amine can bediazotized and replaced with a halogen such as bromine and then furtherfunctionalized by coupling any of a number of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, orheteroaryl metal derivatives, including tin reagents, boronates, or zinchalides using a source of palladium according to the general protocolsof Stille, Suzuki, or Negishi respectively. These are standard,extremely versatile reactions known to those skilled in the art.Similarly, a variety of amine-containing substrates can be coupled tothe aryl bromide using the protocols of Buchwald and/or Hartwig.Saponification of the resulting esters of formula 24 to the acid affordssubstituted isophthalic acid derivatives that can be coupled with cyclicdiaminopropanes of type 3b.

Additional examples of the synthesis of substituted isophthalates areprovided in International patent application WO 2003/045913.

Cyclic aldehydes can be prepared by a number of methods known to oneskilled in the art depending on the cyclic structure employed. Apreferred class of cyclic aldehydes can be derived from derivitizationof an appropriate commercially-available diastereomer of 4-hydroxyproline. The hydroxy proline acid of formula 26 may be protected usingstandard conditions know to those skilled in the art. In general,nitrogen atom can be blocked by such protecting groups as Boc or benzyl,the alcohol protected as allyl, benzyl, or other appropriate group, andthe carboxylic acid may then be reduced under standard conditions to thealcohol Scheme 4. Ways to effect this transformation include sodiumborohydride reduction of the carboxyanhydride, lithium aluminum hydride,or formation of the ester followed by borohydride reduction. The alcoholis then oxidized using a mild oxidizing agent such as the Swern protocolor the Dess-Mertin reagent, or other similar reagents to the desiredprotected pyrrolidinol aldehyde of formula 28.

Using similar chemistry, substituted piperidine-based aldehydes offormulas 31a and 31b can be constructed, including the aldehydes derivedfrom pipecolic acid or morpholine 3-carboxylic acid, both items ofcommerce, according to Scheme 5. Typically the nitrogen protecting groupis a Boc group.

Scheme 6 discloses methods for preparing substituted cyclic hydroxyethylamines of formula 28 that are used as a coupling partner forisophthalate acids of formula 2. The method relies on thediastereoselective aldol reaction of a suitable enolate equivalent witha substituted cyclic aldehyde. There are a number of methods for thediastereoselective aldol reaction, including those developed byMasamune, (See, for instance, Masamune, S.; Ali, S. A.; Snitman, D. L.;Garvey, D. S. Aldol condensation with increased stereoselectivitythrough use of an enantioselective chiral enolate. Angewandte Chemie1980, 92, 573-575, and Masamune, S.; Choy, W.; Kerdesky Francis, A. J.;Imperiali, B. Stereoselective aldol condensation. Use of chiral boronenolates. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1981, 103,1566-1568.) and Heathcock (See Heathcock, C. H. Acyclic stereoselectionvia the aldol condensation. ACS Symposium Series 1982, 185, 55-72.,Pirrung, M. C.; Heathcock, C. H. Acyclic stereoselection. 8. A new classof reagents for the highly stereoselective preparation ofthreo-2-alkyl-3-hydroxycarboxylic acids by the aldol condensation.Journal of Organic Chemistry 1980, 45, 1727-1728.). The most commonlyused method, and the one described herein, is the method of Evans,reported in a large number of articles including Gage, J. R.; Evans, D.A. Diastereoselective aldol condensation using a chiral oxazolidinoneauxiliary. Organic Syntheses 1990, 68, 83-91.

The protected cyclic aldehyde of formula 34 is reacted with an enolateaccording to the method of Evans as referenced above. Thus,(S)-4-benzyl-2-oxazolidinone is acylated as it's lithium salt with acarboxylic acid chloride or with the carboxylate activated as it'spivaloyl mixed carboxyanhydride (see Ho, G.-J.; Mathre, D. J.,“Lithium-Initiated Imide Formation. A Simple Method for N-Acylation of2-Oxazolidinones and Bornane-2,10-Sultam”, Journal of Organic Chemistry,1995, 60(7): 2271-2273.) to provide the substituted N-Acyl oxazolidinoneof formula 33. This reagent is deprotonated using dibutylboron triflateand a tertiary amine base such as diisopropylethylamine to form theboron enolate, which reacts in a diastereoselective manner to producethe β-hydroxyimide 35. Saponification of the Chiral

auxiliary under standard conditions (LiOH, H₂O₂) followed by Curtiusrearrangement initiated by formation of the acyl azide usingdiphenylphosphorylazide (DPPA) provides the carbamate-protectedaminoalcohol of formula 36. Alternatively, the acid can be converted tothe acyl azide using an acid activating agent such as the mixed carbonicanhydride formed by isobutyl chloroformate in the presence of an aminebase such as N-methyl morpholine followed by treatment with sodiumazide. The rearrangement is then cleanly effected by heating the acylazide in a solvent such as toluene containing an alcohol to trap theintermediate isocyanate. Removal of the alcohol protecting groupprovides the free alcohol, which may be carried forward itself, or serveas a synthon for other functionality. For example, Mitsunobu inversionwith desired phenols and the like provide O-aryl derivatives,O-alkylation provides ether analogs, oxidation to the ketone and Wittigchemistry provides alkenes and, after reduction, substituted alkanes,and other transformations known to those skilled in the art. Mitsunobuinversion of the free alcohol 36 with methane sulfonic acid can also beused to provide a mesylate, which can be displaced with nucleophilesincluding thiols to provide thioethers. The thioether can be oxidized ifdesired to the sulfoxide or the sulfone. Cleavage of the carbamate offormula 37 by saponification with aqueous lithium hydroxide provides thefunctionalized pyrrolidine-containing diaminopropane ready to couple toa substituted isophthalate of formula 2.

Coupling of an isophthalic acid of formula 15 with a protected orunprotected cyclic amino alcohol of formula 38 using methods previouslydescribed for making amide bonds, such as HATU and DIEA in DMF, providesa protected or unprotected product, which can be deprotected ifnecessary to provide the compounds Ie of the present invention (Scheme7). Preferably, if a protecting group PG is used, it is a Boc group,which is removed by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid indichloromethane. Also preferred is cleavage of a p-methoxybenzyl orbenzhydryl group using hydrogenation in the usual manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The compounds of this application and their preparation can beunderstood further by the following working examples. These examples aremeant to be illustrative of the present application, and are not to betaken as limiting thereof.

Chemical abbreviations used in the specification and Examples aredefined as follows:

-   “Ac” for acetate,-   “APCI” for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization,-   “Boc” or “BOC” for t-butyloxycarbonyl,-   “BOP” for benzotriazol-1-yloxytris-(dimethylamino)-phosphonium    hexafluorophosphate,-   “Cbz” for benzyloxycarbonyl,-   “CDI” for 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole,-   “CD₃OD” for deuteromethanol,-   “CDCl₃” for deuterochloroform,-   “DCC” for 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide,-   “DCM” for dichloromethane-   “DEAD” for diethyl azodicarboxylate,-   “DIEA”, “Hunig's base”, or “DIPEA” for N,N-diisopropylethylamine,-   “DMF” for N,N-dimethylformamide,-   “DMAP” for 4-dimethylaminopyridine,-   “DMPU” for 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidone,-   “DMSO” for dimethylsulfoxide,-   “DPPA” for diphenylphosphorylazide-   “EDC” or “EDCI” for 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide    hydrochloride,-   “Et” for ethyl,-   “EtOAC” for ethyl acetate,-   “HOAc” for acetic acid,-   “HOBt” for 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate,-   “HATU” for O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium    hexafluorophosphate,-   “HMPA” for hexamethylphosphoramide,-   “LDA” for lithium diisopropylamide,-   “LiHMDS” for lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide,-   “NaHMDS” for sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide,-   “NMM” for 4-methylmorpholine,-   “PyBOP” for benzotriazole-1-yl-oxy-tris-pyrrolidino-phosphonium    hexafluorophosphate,-   “TMSCH₂N₂” for (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane,-   “TMSN₃” for Azidotrimethylsilane,-   “TBTU” for O-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium    tetrafluoroborate,-   “TEA” for triethylamine,-   “TFA” for trifluoroacetic acid, and-   “THF” for tetrahydrofuran.

Abbreviations used in the Examples are defined as follows: “° C.” fordegrees Celsius, “MS” for mass spectrometry, “ESI” for electrosprayionization mass spectroscopy, “HR” for high resolution, “LC-MS” forliquid chromatography mass spectrometry, “eq” for equivalent orequivalents, “g” for gram or grams, “h” for hour or hours, “mg” formilligram or milligrams, “mL” for milliliter or milliliters, “mmol” formillimolar, “M” for molar, “min” for minute or minutes, “rt” for roomtemperature, “NMR” for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, “tlc”for thin layer chromatography, “atm” for atmosphere, and “α”, “β”, “R”,“S”, “E”, and “Z” are stereochemical designations familiar to oneskilled in the art.

“HPLC” is an abbreviation used herein for high pressure liquidchromatography. Reverse-phase HPLC can be carried out using a Vydac C-18column with gradient elution from 10% to 100% buffer B in buffer A(buffer A: water containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid, buffer B: 10%water, 90% acetonitrile containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). Ifnecessary, organic layers can be dried over sodium sulfate unlessotherwise indicated. However, unless otherwise indicated, the followingconditions are generally applicable. “LC-MS” refers to high pressureliquid chromatography carried out according to the definition for HPLCwith a mass spectrometry detector.

Melting points were determined on a MeI-Temp II apparatus and areuncorrected. IR spectra were obtained on a single-beam Nicolet NexusFT-IR spectrometer using 16 accumulations at a resolution of 4.00 cm−1on samples prepared in a pressed disc of KBr or as a film on KBr plates.Proton NMR spectra (300 MHz, referenced to tetramethylsilane) wereobtained on a Varian INOUA 300, Bruker Avance 300, Avance 400, or Avance500 spectrometer. Data were referred to the lock solvent. ElectrosprayIonization (ESI) experiments were performed on a Micromass II Platformsingle-quadrupole mass spectrometer, or on a Finnigan SSQ7000 massspectrometer. HPLC analyses were obtained using a Rainin Dynamax C18column with UV detection at 223 nm using a standard solvent gradientprogram as follows:

HPLC solvent conditions: When described as performed under “standardconditions”, Samples were dissolved in methanol (1 mg/mL) and run usingthe following gradient program with a solvent flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.

Acetonitrile H₂O Time (min) (0.05% TFA) (0.05% TFA) Initial 10 90 20.090 10 20-30 90 10

Preparatory HPLC: When described as performed under “standardconditions”, Samples (approx. 20 mg) were dissolved in methanol (10mg/mL) and purified on a 25 mm×50 mm Vydac C18 column with a 5 minutegradient elution from 10% to 100% buffer B in buffer A (buffer A: watercontaining 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid, buffer B: 10% water, 90%acetonitrile containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) at 10 mL/minute.

Analytical HPLC: When described as “Method A”, a sample dissolved in asuitable carrier solvent (methanol, acetonitrile, or the like) wasanalyzed on an Xterra 3.0×50 mm s7 column with a nm time of 3 min and agradient of 0-100% B over 2 min at a flowrate of 5 mL/min. Absorbancewas monitored at 220 μM. Solvent A=0% MeOH/90% water/0.1% TFA andSolvent B=10% water/90% MeOH/0.1% TFA.

Analytical HPLC: When described as “Method B”, a sample dissolved in asuitable carrier solvent (methanol, acetonitrile, or the like) wasanalyzed on an Xterra 3.0×50 mm s7 column with a run time of 4 min and agradient of 0-100% B over 3 min at a flowrate of 5 mL/min. Absorbancewas monitored at 220 μM. Solvent A=0% MeOH/90% water/0.1% TFA andSolvent B=10% water/90% MeOH/0.1% TFA.

Analytical HPLC: When described as “Method C”, a sample dissolved in asuitable carrier solvent (methanol, acetonitrile, or the like) wasanalyzed on an Xterra 4.6×50 mm S5 column with a run time of 4 min and agradient of 0-100% B over 2 min at a flowrate of 5 mL/min. Absorbancewas monitored at 220 μM. Solvent A=0% MeOH/90% water/0.1% TFA andSolvent B=10% water/90% MeOH/0.1% TFA.

The examples provided are intended to assist in a further understandingof the present disclosure. Particular materials employed, species andconditions are intended to further illustrate the specific embodimentsof the invention and not limit the reasonable scope thereof.

Synthesis of Intermediates Preparation A (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate

Step A (1):(2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid.To a suspension of H-D-Cis-Hyp-OH (purchased from Aldrich, 10.0 g, 76.3mmol) in 2:1 THF:H₂O (125 ml) was added a 2.5 molar aqueous sodiumhydroxide solution (42.0 ml). To this mixture was added a solution ofDi-tert-butyldicarbonate (22.6 g, 103.6 mmol) in 2:1 THF: H₂O (125 ml).The resulting reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 18 h. The mixturewas then concentrated in vacuo to remove the THF. To the remainingaqueous mixture was added a 10% aqueous potassium hydrogen sulfatesolution (150 ml). The resulting mixture was extracted with ethylacetate. The organic phase was washed with H₂O, sat. aqu. NaCl, dried(MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting slightly yellow oilwas crystallized from hot ethyl acetate to give 11.8 g (67%) of(2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidas a white solid: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.44 (9H, m), 1.99-2.09 (1H,m), 2.35-2.49 (1H, m), 3.32-3.35 (1H, m), 3.60 (1H, dd, J=6, 12 Hz),4.25 (1H, dd, J=6, 12 Hz), 4.31-4.36 (1H, m).

Step A (2): (2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tertbutoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid. To a suspension of NaH(60% in oil, 5.84 g, 146 mmol) in DMF (125 ml) cooled to 0° C. was addeda solution of(2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid(Step A (1), 13.5 g, 58.4 mmol) in THF (100 ml) dropwise. When theaddition was complete, the mixture was allowed to come to rt and stiruntil gas evolution ceased (30-45 min.). To the reaction mixture wasthen added allyl bromide (5.05 ml, 58.4 mmol) dropwise. The resultingmixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. The reaction was quenched by the slowaddition of 1N HCl (150 ml). pH 4 buffer was added and the mixture wasextracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with sat.aqu. NaCl, dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. Flashchromatography (silica gel, 0-20% methanol/chloroform) gave 13.06 g(83%) of(2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylicacid as a clear, colorless oil: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.44 (9H, m),2.18-2.44 (2H, m), 3.42 (1H, dd, J=3, 12 Hz), 3.59 (1H, dd, J=6, 12 Hz),3.95-3.96 (2H, m), 4.10-4.14 (1H, m), 4.26-4.34 (1H, m), 5.12 (1H, d,J=12 Hz), 5.26 (1H, d, J=18 Hz), 5.80-5.92 (1H, m). HPLC retention time:1.21 min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 272.17.

Step A (3): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate. A solution of(2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylicacid (Step A (2), 13.06 g, 48.2 mmol) in THF (250 ml) was cooled to 0°C. Hunig's base (12.6 ml, 72.3 mmol) and ethyl chloroformate (5.51 ml,57.8 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 15 min.The mixture was then allowed to come to rt and stir for 2 h. duringwhich white ppt. formed. NaBH₄ (1.68 g, 44.28 mmol) was then added andthe mixture was again cooled to 0° C. To the resulting mixture was addedMeOH (179 ml) very slowly. The MeOH addition results in gas evolutionand an exotherm. When the addition was complete, the mixture was allowedto come to rt and stir for 2 h. The reaction was then concentrated invacuo and the residue was partitioned between 1N HCl and ethyl acetate.The organic phase was washed with sat. aqu. NaCl, dried (MgSO₄), andconcentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel, 0-10%methanol/chloroform) gave 9.58 g (77%) of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate as a clear,colorless oil: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.43 (9H, s), 1.82 (1H, brd s),2.18 (1H, m), 3.40-3.54 (2H, m), 3.66-3.69 (2H, m), 3.93-4.00 (5H, m),5.16 (1H, dd, J=3, 9 Hz), 5.24 (1H, dd, J=3, 15 Hz), 5.78-5.91 (1H, m).HPLC retention time: 1.28 min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 258.19.

Step A (4): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-formylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate. To a solution of(2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (Step A (3),9.58 g, 37.28 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (500 ml) was added Dess Martin periodinane(32.0 g, 74.55 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h.and then concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel, 0-50%ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 7.39 g (78%) of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-formylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate as a slightly yellow oil:¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.44 (9H, m), 2.01-2.35 (2H, m), 3.40-3.48(1H, m), 3.55-3.70 (1H, m), 3.84-3.92 (2H, m), 4.04-4.20 (2H, m),5.12-5.24 (2H, m), 5.74-5.87 (1H, m), 9.51-9.57 (1H, m). HPLC retentiontime: 1.39 min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H+CH₃OH)⁺ 288.21.

Step A (5): 2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of(S)-4-benzyl-3-(3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propanoyl)oxazolidin-2-one(Preparation B, 1.47 g, 4.27 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (15 ml) at −78° C. wasadded Bu₂BOTf (5.12 ml, 5.12 mmol, 1M in CH₂Cl₂) and Hunig's base (1.12ml, 6.41 mmol). The resulting mixture was brought to 0° C. and stirredfor 30 min. The mixture was again cooled to −78° C. and a solution of(2R,4R)-tert-butyl 4-(allyloxy)-2-formylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (StepA (4), 1.09 g, 4.27 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (10 ml) was added dropwise. When theaddition was complete, the mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 5 min.,then was allowed to warm to rt. After stirring at rt for 4 h. themixture was concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel,0-75% ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 1.22 g (48%) of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylateas a slightly yellow oil: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 1.49 (9H, s),2.03-2.22 (2H, m), 2.31 (1H, d, J=12 Hz), 2.98 (1H, dd, J=3, 15 Hz),3.07 (1H, t, J=12 Hz), 3.42-3.57 (3H, m), 3.97-4.11 (8H, m), 4.57 (2H,brd s), 5.17-5.30 (2H, m), 5.81-5.94 (1H, m), 6.61 (1H, t, J=9 Hz), 6.90(2H, brd s), 7.00 (2H, brd s), 7.26 (3H, m). HPLC retention time: 2.04min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 601.37.

Step A (6):(2S,3S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)-3-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)propanoicacid. The compound of Step A (5), (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate,6.5 grams, 0.011 mmol) was dissolved in 30 mL of DCM and treated with5.6 mL (32 mmol) of DIEA, followed by 3.43 g (13.0 mmol) oftert-butyldimethylsilyl triflate. After 30 min, the reaction had gone tocompletion by tlc analysis eluting with 2:3 ethyl acetate:hexanes andwas washed twice with a satd. NaHCO₃ solution and once with brine. Theorganic layer was dried and concentrated in vacuo to an oil. The crudeproduct thus obtained was dissolved in 150 mL of THF and chilled to 0°C. A solution of 30% H₂O₂ in water (9 mL, 0.088 mmol) was then added,followed by a solution of lithium hydroxide (0.53 g, 0.022 mmol)dissolved in 40 mL of water. The reaction solution was allowed to warmto rt and stirred 16 h. The mixture was then diluted with 100 mL ofether and washed twice with a satd. NaHCO₃ solution and once with brine.The organic layer was dried and concentrated to an oil which waspurified by silica gel chromatography eluting with 2:3 ethylacetate:hexanes to provide 3.77 g (62%) of the desired title compound asa white foam. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.07 (d, J=23.67 Hz, 6 H)0.93 (s, 9 H) 1.35 (s, 9 H) 2.06 (m, 1 H) 2.22 (m, 1 H) 2.46 (m, 1 H)2.78 (t, J=12.59 Hz, 1 H) 2.94 (m, 1 H) 3.08 (m, 1 H) 3.82 (m, 1 H) 3.97(m, 4 H) 4.53 (d, J=6.80 Hz, 1 H) 5.15 (d, J=10.32 Hz, 1 H) 5.25 (dd,J=17.25, 1.13 Hz, 1 H) 5.86 (m, J=22.54, 10.70, 5.54 Hz, 1 H) 6.59 (t,J=9.06 Hz, 1 H) 6.64 (m, 1 H) 6.69 (d, J=6.55 Hz, 1 H).

Step A (7): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.The compound of step A (6) (3.77 g, 6.8 mmol) was dissolved in 20 mL oftoluene, and treated with 1.31 g of DIEA (10.2 mmol), followed by 2.24 g(8.2 mmol) of DPPA. The reaction solution was heated to 70° C. for 4 h,then allowed to cool to rt. Excess DIEA (4.4 g, 34 mmol) was then added,followed by 1.83 g (17 mmol) of benzyl alcohol. The reaction solutionwas again heated to 70° C. for 16 h and then the solvent ws directlyremoved in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatographyeluting with a gradient of 2.5% to 10% ethyl acteate in hexanes toprovide 2.5 g (56%) of the title compound of preparation A as a whitefoam. MS (ESI, M+H)⁺=661.26 ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.05 (m, 6 H)0.91 (s, 9 H) 1.45 (d, J=24.41 Hz, 9 H) 2.14 (s, 1 H) 2.41 (m, 1 H) 3.14(d, J=9.77 Hz, 2 H) 3.79 (s, 1 H) 3.95 (s, 4 H) 4.03 (d, J=5.80 Hz, 1 H)4.13 (s, 1 H) 4.94 (d, J=12.51 Hz, 1 H) 5.00 (m, 1 H) 5.15 (d, J=10.68Hz, 1 H) 5.24 (m, 1 H) 5.85 (m, 1 H) 6.60 (s, 1 H) 6.73 (d, J=5.80 Hz, 1H) 7.27 (m, 8 H).

Preparation B(S)-4-benzyl-3-(3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propanoyl)oxazolidin-2-one

Step B (1): 3,5-difluorophenylhydrocinnamic acid. Commercial3,5-difluorocinnamic acid (50.0 g, 0.271 mol) was dissolved in a mixtureof 800 mL of ethyl acetate and 200 mL of methanol and added to aprewetted bed (methanol) of 5 g of 5% palladium on carbon. The mixturewas placed under 40 psi of hydrogen in a Parr apparatus for 30 min, andthe hydrogen pressure refilled until it stabilized. After an additional30 min, the suspension was filtered through a bed of celite andconcentrated to a crude oil which solidified upon standing. Thismaterial was carried onto the next step without further purification.

Step B (2): 3,5-difluorophenylhydrocinnamoyl chloride. To a solution of3,5-difluorophenylhydrocinnamic acid (step B (1), 10 g, 54 mmol) in 250mL of CH₂Cl₂ was added 2.5 mL of DMF. To this solution was addeddropwise oxalyl chloride (6.6 mL, 75 mmol, vigorous gas evolution) andthe resulting solution was then stirred at rt for 2 h and thenconcentrated to a crude oil which was used in the next step withoutfurther purification.

Step B (3):(S)-4-benzyl-3-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propanoyl)oxazolidin-2-one.(S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one (10.5 g, 59 mmol) was dissolved in 200 mLof THF and chilled to −78° C. A solution of n-butyllithium in pentane(55.6 mL, 1.18 M, 65 mmol) was then added dropwise. After stirring foran additional 30 min at −78° C., the solution was allowed to come to 0°C. Separately, the acid chloride prepared in step B (2) was dissolved in100 mL of THF and chilled to −78° C. The oxazolidinone anion solutionfrom above was added dropwise to the acid chloride solution, and uponcompletion of the addition, the reaction mixture was allowed to warm tort and stir for 2 h. The reaction solution was then partitioned betweenwater and ethyl acetate and the organic layer was separated and driedwith brine and MgSO₄ and then concentrated. The crude product was thenrecrystallized from 95% EtOH to provide white needles. ¹H NMR (500 MHz,CDCl₃) δ ppm 2.77 (dd, J=13.43, 9.46 Hz, 1 H) 3.00 (m, 2 H) 3.25 (m, 3H) 4.18 (m, 2 H) 4.67 (m, 1 H) 6.64 (m, J=9.08, 9.08, 2.29, 2.14 Hz, 1H) 6.79 (dd, J=8.24, 1.83 Hz, 2 H) 7.16 (d, J=6.71 Hz, 2 H) 7.27 (m, 1H) 7.32 (t, J=7.17 Hz, 2 H).

Preparation C(1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-benzhydrylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-2-amino-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-1-ol

Step C (1): Preparation of(2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid.To a suspension of H-D-Cis-Hyp-OH (purchased from Aldrich)(10.0 g, 76.3mmol) in 2:1 THF:H₂O (125 ml) was added a 2.5 molar aqueous sodiumhydroxide solution (42.0 ml). To this mixture was added a solution ofDi-tert-butyldicarbonate (22.6 g, 103.6 mmol) in 2:1 THF: H₂O (125 ml).The resulting reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 18 h. The mixturewas then concentrated in vacuo to remove the THF. To the remainingaqueous mixture was added a 10% aqueous potassium hydrogen sulfatesolution (150 ml). The resulting mixture was extracted with ethylacetate. The organic phase was washed with H₂O, sat. aqu. NaCl, dried(MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting slightly yellow oilwas crystallized from hot ethyl acetate to give 11.8 g (67%) of(2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidas a white solid: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.44 (9H, m), 1.99-2.09 (1H,m), 2.35-2.49 (1H, m), 3.32-3.35 (1H, m), 3.60 (1H, dd, J=6, 12 Hz),4.25 (1H, dd, J=6, 12 Hz), 4.31-4.36 (1H, m).

Step C (2): Preparation of(2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylicacid. To a suspension of NaH (60% in oil)(5.84 g, 146 mmol) in DMF (125ml) cooled to 0° C. was added a solution of(2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid(Step C (1), 13.5 g, 58.4 mmol) in THF (100 ml) dropwise. When theaddition was complete, the mixture was allowed to come to rt and stiruntil gas evolution ceased (30-45 min.). To the reaction mixture wasthen added allyl bromide (5.05 ml, 58.4 mmol) dropwise. The resultingmixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. The reaction was quenched by the slowaddition of 1N HCl (150 ml). pH 4 buffer was added and the mixture wasextracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with sat.aqu. NaCl, dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo. Flashchromatography (silica gel, 0-20% methanol/chloroform) gave 13.06 g(83%) of(2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylicacid as a clear, colorless oil: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.44 (9H, m),2.18-2.44 (2H, m), 3.42 (1H, dd, J=3, 12 Hz), 3.59 (1H, dd, J=6, 12 Hz),3.95-3.96 (2H, m), 4.10-4.14 (1H, m), 4.26-4.34 (1H, m), 5.12 (1H, d,J=12 Hz), 5.26 (1H, d, J=18 Hz), 5.80-5.92 (1H, m). HPLC retention time:1.21 min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 272.17.

Step C (3): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate. A solution of(2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylicacid (Step C (2), 13.06 g, 48.2 mmol) in THF (250 ml) was cooled to 0°C. Hunig's base (12.6 ml, 72.3 mmol) and ethyl chloroformate (5.51 ml,57.8 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 15 min.The mixture was then allowed to come to rt and stir for 2 h. duringwhich white ppt. formed. NaBH₄ (1.68 g, 44.28 mmol) was then added andthe mixture was again cooled to 0° C. To the resulting mixture was addedMeOH (179 ml) very slowly. The MeOH addition results in gas evolutionand an exotherm. When the addition was complete, the mixture was allowedto come to rt and stir for 2 h. The reaction was then concentrated invacuo and the residue was partitioned between 1N HCl and ethyl acetate.The organic phase was washed with sat. aqu. NaCl, dried (MgSO₄), andconcentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel, 0-10%methanol/chloroform) gave 9.58 g (77%) of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate as a clear,colorless oil: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.43 (9H, s), 1.82 (1H, brd s),2.18 (1H, m), 3.40-3.54 (2H, m), 3.66-3.69 (2H, m), 3.93-4.00 (5H, m),5.16 (1H, dd, J=3, 9 Hz), 5.24 (1H, dd, J=3, 15 Hz), 5.78-5.91 (1H, m).HPLC retention time: 1.28 min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 258.19.

Step C (4): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-formylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate. To a solution of(2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (Step C (3),9.58 g, 37.28 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (500 ml) was added Dess Martin periodinane(32.0 g, 74.55 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h.and then concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel, 0-50%ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 7.39 g (78%) of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-formylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate as a slightly yellow oil:¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 1.44 (9H, m), 2.01-2.35 (2H, m), 3.40-3.48(1H, m), 3.55-3.70 (1H, m), 3.84-3.92 (2H, m), 4.04-4.20 (2H, m),5.12-5.24 (2H, m), 5.74-5.87 (1H, m), 9.51-9.57 (1H, m). HPLC retentiontime: 1.39 min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H+CH₃OH)⁺ 288.21.

Step C (5): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of(S)-4-benzyl-3-(3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propanoyl)oxazolidin-2-one(Preparation M), 1.47 g, 4.27 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (15 ml) at −78° C. wasadded Bu₂BoTf (5.12 ml, 5.12 mmol, 1M in CH₂Cl₂) and Hunig's base (1.12ml, 6.41 mmol). The resulting mixture was brought to 0° C. and stirredfor 30 min. The mixture was again cooled to −78° C. and a solution of(2R,4R)-tert-butyl 4-(allyloxy)-2-formylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (StepC (4), 1.09 g, 4.27 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (10 ml) was added dropwise. When theaddition was complete, the mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 5 min.,then was allowed to warm to rt. After stirring at rt for 4 h. themixture was concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel,0-75% ethyl acetate/hexane) gave 1.22 g (48%) of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylateas a slightly yellow oil: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 1.49 (9H, s),2.03-2.22 (2H, m), 2.31 (1H, d, J=12 Hz), 2.98 (1H, dd, J=3, 15 Hz),3.07 (1H, t, J=12 Hz), 3.42-3.57 (3H, m), 3.97-4.11 (8H, m), 4.57 (2H,brd s), 5.17-5.30 (2H, m), 5.81-5.94 (1H, m), 6.61 (1H, t, J=9 Hz), 6.90(2H, brd s), 7.00 (2H, brd s), 7.26 (3H, m). HPLC retention time: 2.04min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 601.37.

Step C (6): Preparation of(2S,3S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoicacid. To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step C (5), 1.02 g, 1.7 mmol) in THF (31 ml) was added a solution ofLiOH (82 mg, 3.4 mmol) in H₂O (7.7 ml), then 30% H₂O₂ (2.58 ml). Thisreaction mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. The mixture was then cooledto 0° C. and a solution of Na₂SO₃ in H₂O was added slowly to quench. Theresulting mixture was allowed to come to rt and stir for 10 min. 1N HClwas added and the mixture was extracted with diethyl ether. The organicphase was washed with sat. aqu. NaCl, dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated invacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel, 50% MTBE/diethyl ether) gave408 mg (54%) of(2S,3S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoicacid as a clear, colorless oil: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 1.42 (9H, s),1.46-1.51 (1H, m), 2.01-2.18 (2H, m), 2.56 (1H, t, J=9 Hz), 2.91 (1H,dd, J=9, 15 Hz), 3.20-3.30 (1H, m), 3.45-3.51 (2H, m), 3.96-4.24 (6H,m), 5.21-5.31 (2H, m), 5.81-5.94 (1H, m), 6.60 (1H, t, J=6 Hz), 6.74(2H, t, J=6 Hz). HPLC retention time: 1.63 min (method A). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 442.25.

Step C (7): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of(2S,3S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoicacid (Step C (6), 400 mg, 0.907 mmol) in toluene (22 ml) was addeddiphenylphosphoryl azide (353 μl, 1.63 mmol) and triethyl amine (253 μl,1.81 mmol). This reaction mixture was brought to 65° C. and stirred for18 h. The mixture was then concentrated in vacuo. The residue was takenup in ethyl acetate. This solution was washed with sat. aqu. sodiumbicarbonate, H₂O, sat. aqu. NaCl, dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated invacuo. Flash chromatography (silica gel, 0-60% ethyl acetate/hexane)gave 278 mg (70%) of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylateas a yellow oil: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 1.46 (9H, s), 2.03-2.14 (1H,m), 2.43-2.53 (2H, m), 3.35 (1H, d, J=12 Hz), 3.70 (2H, brd s),3.90-3.96 (2H, m), 4.06-4.11 (2H, m), 4.25 (1H, dt, J=3, 9 Hz), 4.78(1H, s), 4.88 (1H, t, J=6 Hz), 5.18 (1H, dd, J=3, 9 Hz), 5.28 (1H, dd,J=3, 18 Hz), 5.83-5.96 (1H, m), 6.68-6.76 (3H, m). HPLC retention time:1.68 min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 439.27.

Step C (8): Preparation of(4S,5R)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidin-2-yl)oxazolidin-2-one.A solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step C (7), 278 mg, 0.635 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (2 ml) was treated with TFA(1 ml). This reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h. The mixture wasthen concentrated in vacuo. CH₂Cl₂ was added to the residue and themixture was again concentrated in vacuo. The residue was partitionedbetween ethyl acetate and sat. aqu. sodium bicarbonate. The organicphase was washed with sat. aqu. NaCl, dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated invacuo to give 185 mg (86%) of(4S,5R)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidin-2-yl)oxazolidin-2-oneas an opaque yellow oil: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 2.05-2.23 (2H, m),2.34 (1H, brd s), 2.61 (1H, t, J=12 Hz), 3.00-3.11 (2H, m), 3.16 (1H,dd, J=3, 12 Hz), 3.48-3.55 (1H, m), 3.90-4.13 (4H, m), 4.60 (1H, dd,J=9, 12 Hz), 4.92 (1H, s), 5.17 (1H, dd, J=3, 9 Hz), 5.26 (1H, dd, J=3,15 Hz), 5.82-5.95 (1H, m), 6.68-6.74 (3H, m). HPLC retention time: 0.84min (method A). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 339.20.

Step C (9):(4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-benzhydrylpyrrolidin-2-yl)oxazolidin-2-one.A mixture of(4S,5R)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)pyrrolidin-2-yl)oxazolidin-2-one(Step C (8), 2.03 g, 6.0 mmol), benzylhydryl bromide (2.22 g, 9.0 mmol),and potassium carbonate (1.24 g, 9.0 mmol) in acetonitrile (40 mL) wasstirred at reflux for 35 min. After cooling to rt, the mixture wasfiltered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude mixture was purified byFlash Chromatography (silica gel, 0-7.5% methanol/chloroform) to give aslightly yellow oil as the title compound (2.64 g, 87% yield): ¹H NMR(CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 1.95-2.23 (2H, m), 2.36 (1H, t, J=12 Hz), 2.70 (1H,m), 3.02 (2H, d, J=6 Hz), 3.48 (1H, m), 3.71-3.99 (4H, m), 4.70 (1H, s),4.78 (1H, t, J=6 Hz), 4.93 (1H, s), 5.12 (1H, m), 5.22 (1H, dd, J=3, 18Hz), 5.84 (1H, m), 6.49 (1H, d, J=6 Hz), 6.67 (1H, m), 7.20-7.39 (11H,m).

Step C (10):(1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-benzhydrylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-2-amino-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-1-ol.To a solution of(4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-benzhydrylpyrrolidin-2-yl)oxazolidin-2-one(Step C (9), 60 mg) in EtOH (5 mL) was added a solution of LiOH (29 mg)in H₂O (1 mL). This reaction mixture was stirred at 90° C. overnight.EtOH was removed and ethyl ether (50 mL) was added to the mixture andwashed with 1N HCl (40 mL) twice. The aqueous layer was neutralized with50% NaOH to pH=12 and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL). The organiclayer was dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give the titlecompound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 1.89-2.06 (2H, m), 2.29-2.49 (2H,m), 2.66 (1H, dt, J=3, 9 Hz), 2.90 (1H, dd, J=3, 9 Hz), 2.98 (1H, dd,J=3, 12 Hz), 3.19 (1H, d, J=12 Hz), 3.36 (1H, m), 3.88 (1H, m), 3.98(2H, m), 4.86 (1H, s), 5.18 (1H, m), 5.28 (1H, m), 5.86-5.99 (1H, m),6.58-6.71 (3H, m), 7.09-7.36 (10H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 479.24.

Preparation D (4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((2R,4S)-1-benzhydryl-4-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-yl)oxazolidin-2-one

Step D (1): tert-Butyl 3-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carboxylate. To asolution of 4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)morpholine-3-carboxylic acid (4.7 g,20.35 mmol) in THF (120 mL) were added Hunig's base (6.6 g, 50.875mmol). Then chloroethylformate (2.65 g, 24.4 mmol) was added at 0° C.After stirring from 0° C. to rt over 1.5 h, NaBH₄ (3.1 g, 81.4 mmol) wasadded and after 15 min, MeOH (20 mL) was added slowly at 0° C. Afterstirring at rt for 1 h, THF and MeOH was removed and ethyl acetate (600mL) was added and the mixture was washed with NaHCO₃, H₂O, and dried(Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give 3.56 g of the title compound(81% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 1.46 (9H, s), 2.03 (1H, brd s),3.17 (1H, m), 3.46 (1H, m), 3.56 (1H, m), 3.72-3.86 (4H, m), 3.91 (1H,d, J=10 Hz), 3.99 (1H, brd s).

Step D (2): tert-Butyl 3-formylmorpholine-4-carboxylate. To a solutionof dimethyl sulfoxide (32.4 g, 41.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL)was added oxalyl dichloride (3.14 g, 24.7 mmol) at −78° C. Afterstirring at −78° C. for 15 min, the mixture was added a solution oftert-butyl 3-(hydroxymethyl) morpholine-4-carboxylate (step D (1), 3.58g, 16.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL) and stirred at −78° C. for 1h. Then Hunig base (8.5 g, 66 mmol) was added and the reaction mixturewas warmed up to rt over 3 h. The solvent was removed and ethyl acetate(500 mL) was added. The mixture was washed with sodium carbonatesolution, H₂O, and dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give 3.4g of the title compound.

Step D (3): tert-Butyl3-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)morpholine-4-carboxylate.To a solution of(S)-4-benzyl-3-(3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propanoyl)oxazolidin-2-one(preparation M, 6.0 g, 17.4 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (200 mL) at −78° C. wasadded Bu₂BOTf (20.5 ml, 20.5 mmol, 1M in CH₂Cl₂) and Hunig's base (5.1g, 39.5 mmol). The resulting mixture was brought up to 0° C. over 15min. and cooled back to −78° C. A solution of tert-butyl3-formylmorpholine-4-carboxylate (step D (2), 3.4 g, 15.8 mmol) inCH₂Cl₂ (200 mL) was added. When the addition was complete, the mixturewas allowed to warm to and stirred at rt overnight. Dichloromethane (500mL) was added and the mixture was washed with H₂O, dried andconcentrated in vacuo. The crude mixture was purified by silica gelFlash Chromatography (0% to 30% to 50% to 70% EtOAc/Hexane stepgradient) to give 5.6 g of the title compound (63% yield): MS (ESI)(M+Na)⁺583.21.

Step D (4):(2S,3S)-2-(3,5-Difluorobenzyl)-3-(4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)morpholin-3-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoicacid. To a solution of tert-butyl3-((1S,2S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-((S)-4-benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-oxopropyl)morpholine-4-carboxylate(step D (3), 2.8 g, 5 mmol) in THF (60 mL) was added a solution of LiOH(240 mg, 10 mmol) in H₂O (10 mL), then 30% H₂O₂ (5.7 g, 50 mmol) wasadded at 0° C. This reaction mixture was warmed up to rt and stirred atrt overnight. THF was removed and ethyl ether (200 mL) was added. Themixture was washed with 1N NaOH (150 mL) twice. The aqueous layer wastreated with conc. HCl to pH=1 and extracted with ethyl acetate (300 mL)twice. The organic layers were dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuoto give 1.6 g of the title compound (80% yield) which was used in thenext step without purification. MS (ESI) (M+Na)⁺424.13.

Step D (5): tert-Butyl3-((4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)morpholine-4-carboxylate.To a solution of(2S,3S)-2-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-3-(4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)morpholin-3-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoicacid (step D (4)), 1.6 g, 4 mmol) in toluene (100 mL) was addeddiphenylphosphoryl azide (1.65 g, 6 mmol) and triethyl amine (1.01 g, 10mmol.). This reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 4 h. Ethylacetate (500 mL) was added. The mixture was washed with sodium carbonatesolution, H₂O, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The crude mixture waspurified by silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 20% to 30% to 50% to70% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 800 mg of the title compound: MS(ESI) (M−H)⁻ 397.12.

Step D (6):(4S,5S)-4-(3,5-Difluorobenzyl)-5-(morpholin-3-yl)oxazolidin-2-one. Asolution of tert-butyl3-((4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)morpholine-4-carboxylate(step D (5), 230 mg) in CH₂Cl₂ (4 mL) was treated with TFA (3 mL). Thisreaction mixture was stirred at rt for 1.5 h. The mixture was thenconcentrated in vacuo. Diethyl ether (50 mL) was added and the mixturewas washed with 1N HCl solution (40 mL) twice. Aqueous layer wasneutralized with 50% aqueous NaOH to pH=12. The mixture was extractedwith ethyl acetate (80 mL) twice. The combined organic layers were dried(Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give 180 mg of the titlecompound: MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 299.17.

Step D (7):(4S,5S)-4-(3,5-Difluorobenzyl)-5-((R)-4-benzhydrylmorpholin-3-yl)oxazolidin-2-one.To a solution of(4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-(morpholin-3-yl)oxazolidin-2-one (stepD (6), 180 mg, 0.6 mmol) in acetonitrile (5 mL) were added potassiumcarbonate (248 mg, 1.8 mmol) and bromodiphenylmethane (296 mg, 1.2mmol). This mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 1.5 h. Solvent wasremoved and the crude mixture was purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 20% to 40% to 65% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) togive 85 mg of the title compound (29% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ2.14 (1H, m), 2.76 (2H, d, J=15 Hz), 2.98 (1H, d, J=5 Hz), 3.15 (1H, m),3.52 (1H, m), 3.67 (1H, m), 3.87-3.94 (3H, m), 5.23 (2H, d, J=10 Hz),5.31 (1H, m), 6.56 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 6.70 (1H, m), 7.16 (1H, d, J=5 Hz),7.21-7.37 (7H, m), 7.41 (2H, d, J=10 Hz). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 465.14.

Step D (8):(1S,2S)-2-Amino-1-((R)-4-benzhydrylmorpholin-3-yl)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-1-ol.To a solution of(4S,5S)-4-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((R)-4-benzhydrylmorpholin-3-yl)oxazolidin-2-one(step D (7), 85 mg, 0.18 mmol) in EtOH (2 mL) was added a solution ofLiOH (66 mg, 2.75 mmol) in H₂O (1 mL). This reaction mixture was broughtto 98° C. and stirred for overnight. Solvent was removed and 1N HClsolution (50 mL) was added to the mixture and washed with diethyl ether.The aqueous phase was basified with 50% aqueous NaOH solution. Thismixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layer wasdried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give 80 mg of the titlecompound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 1.94-2.06 (3H, m), 2.30 (1H, dd,J=10, 15 Hz), 2.51-2.59 (1H, m), 2.73-2.81 (1H, m), 2.90 (1H, m), 2.95(1H, m), 3.08 (1H, m), 3.70 (1H, m), 3.80 (1H, dt, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.91(1H, m), 4.09 (1H, m), 4.14 (1H, m), 5.05 (1H, s), 6.60-6.68 (3H, m),7.15-7.31 (6H, m), 7.37 (2H, d, J=10 Hz), 7.42 (2H, d, J=5 Hz). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 439.20.

Preparation E 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid

Step E (1): Methyl 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)benzoate. To a solution of3-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid (6.7 g, 37.2 mmol) in DMF (60 mL) wasadded HATU (17.0 g, 44.7 mmol) and dipropylamine (9.4 g, 93 mmol) andthe reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. Ethyl acetate (600 mL)was added and the mixture was washed with H₂O, dried and concentrated togive the title compound was used in the next step without purification.

Step E (2): To a solution of methyl 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)benzoate (StepE (1), 7.7 mmol) in THF (100 mL) was added LiOH (1.7 g, 74.4 mmol) inH₂O (20 mL) and the mixture was stirred at rt for 3 h. The solvent wasremoved and 1N NaOH (100 mL) was added. The mixture was washed withethyl acetate, neutralized with conc. HCl to pH=2, and extracted withethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentratedto give the title compound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.74 (3H, brd s),0.98 (3H, brd s), 1.54 (2H, brd s), 1.70 (2H, brd s), 3.15 (2H, brd s),3.48 (2H, brd s), 7.50 (1H, m), 7.61 (1H, m), 8.08 (1H, m), 8.11 (1H,m), 8.30 (1H, brd s).

Preparation F 3-(butyl(methyl)carbamoyl)benzoic acid

Step F (1): Methyl 3-(butyl(methyl)carbamoyl)benzoate. To a solution of3-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid (1.8 g, 10 mmol) in dichloromethane (40mL) and DMF (20 mL) was added Hunig's base (2.58 g, 20 mmol) to make aclear solution and HATU (4.18 g, 11 mmol) was then added. After stirringfor 10 min, the reaction mixture was added methylbutylamine (1.13 g, 13mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 3 h.Dichloromethane was removed and ethyl acetate (300 mL) was added and themixture was washed with 1N HCl, sodium carbonate solution, H₂O, driedand concentrated to give the title compound ready for next step withoutpurification: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.79-0.98 (3H, m), 1.15 (1H, m),1.41 (1H, brd s), 1.52 (1H, brd s), 1.64 (1H, m), 2.92-3.07 (2H, m),3.21 (1H, brd s), 3.53 (1H, brd s), 3.91 (3H, s), 7.47 (1H, m), 7.58(1H, d, J=10 Hz), 8.05-8.07 (2H, m).

Step F (2): 3-(Butyl(methyl)carbamoyl)benzoic acid. The solution ofmethyl 3-(butyl(methyl)carbamoyl)benzoate (Step F (1), 1.8 g, 7.7 mmol)in THF (50 mL) was added LiOH (370 mg, 15.4 mmol) in H₂O (10 mL) and themixture was stirred at rt overnight. The solvent was removed and 1N NaOH(150 mL) was added. The mixture was washed with ethyl acetate,neutralized with conc. HCl to pH=2, extracted with ethyl acetate. Theorganic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give 1.8 g ofthe title compound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 1.16 (1H, m), 1.42 (1H,m), 1.54 (1H, m), 1.65 (1H, m), 2.10 (3H, s), 2.94-3.09 (3H, m), 3.22(1H, m), 3.55 (1H, m), 7.51 (1H, m), 7.64 (1H, m), 8.10-8.13 (2H, m). MS(ESI) (M+H)⁺ 236.17.

Preparation G 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid

Step G (1): 3-amino-5-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid. A suspension of3-(methoxycarbonyl)-5-nitrobenzoic acid (20.0 g) and palladium on carbon(5 wt %, 4.0 g) in MeOH (600 mL) was shaken in hydrogenator underhydrogen at 50 psi for 3 h. The mixture was filtered and concentrated invacuo to give the title compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 3.90(3H, s), 7.52 (1H, m), 7.55 (1H, m), 7.92 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M−H)⁻194.08.

Step G (2): 3-bromo-5-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid. To a mixture ofcopper (II) bromide (5.5 g, 24.6 mmol), n-butyl nitrite (3.17 g, 30.75mmol) and acetonitrile (300 mL) was added3-amino-5-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid (Step G (1), 4.0 g, 20.5 mmol)in aceonitrile (300 mL) over 30 min at 0° C. and the mixture was warmedup and stirred at rt for 3 h. H₂O was added and acetonitrile wasremoved. Ethyl acetate (600 mL) was added and the mixture was washedwith 3N HCl, H₂O, dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated in vacuo to givethe title compound (97% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 3.96 (3H,s), 8.41 (1H, s), 8.41 (1H, s), 8.67 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M−H)⁻ 259.02.

Step G (3): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-bromo-5-(methoxycarbonyl)benzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of 3-bromo-5-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid (Step G (2),111 mg, 0.43 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) and was added Hunig's base(108 mg, 0.84 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU (167 mg, 0.44mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, the reaction mixturewas added (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Example 1, Step 1 (A), 150 mg, 0.28 mmol) and the reaction mixture wasstirred at rt overnight. The crude mixture was purified by silica gelflash Chromatography (0% to 10% to 20% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) togive 170 mg of the title compound (79% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δppm 0.03 (3H, s), 0.06 (3H, s), 0.83 (9H, s), 0.88 (3H, m), 1.45-1.54(11H, m), 1.96-2.02 (1H, m), 2.20 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 2.67 (1H, dd, J=5,15 Hz), 2.84 (1H, m), 3.27-3.38 (3H, m), 3.76 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.91(3H, s), 4.00 (1H, m), 4.05-4.11 (2H, m), 4.63 (1H, m), 6.61 (1H, m),6.76 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 8.25 (1H, m), 8.32 (1H, s), 8.53 (1H, s), 8.74(1H, d, J=5 Hz). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 771.32.

Step G (4): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)-5-methylbenzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-bromo-5-(methoxycarbonyl)benzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step G (3). 163 mg, 0.21 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) were added potassiumcarbonate (87 mg, 0.63 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (24 mg, 0.021 mmol), andtrimethylboroxine (53 mg, 0.42 mmol) and the reaction mixture wasstirred at 100° C. with sealed cap for 5 h. Then another portion oftrimethylboroxine (53 mg, 0.42 mmol) was added and the reaction wasstirred at 60° C. overnight. Another portion of trimethylboroxine (53mg, 0.42 mmol) was added and the reaction was stirred at 100° C. for 6h. Ethyl acetate (100 mL) was added and the mixture was washed with H₂Oand concentrated under vacuum. The crude mixture was purified by silicagel Flash Chromatography (0% to 5% to 10% to 15% EtOAc/Hexane stepgradient) to give 110 mg of the title compound (77% yield): ¹H NMR(CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.02 (3H, s), 0.07 (3H, s), 0.85 (9H, s), 0.88(3H, m), 1.45-1.52 (11H, m), 2.02-2.07 (1H, m), 2.20 (1H, d, J=15 Hz),2.41 (3H, s), 2.66 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 2.94 (1H, m), 3.28-3.37 (3H,m), 3.76 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.90 (3H, s), 3.99 (1H, m), 4.07-4.13(2H, m), 4.62 (1H, m), 6.59 (1H, m), 6.77 (1H, s), 6.79 (1H, s), 7.91(1H, s), 7.94 (1H, s), 8.20 (1H, brd s), 8.34 (1H, s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺705.41.

Step G (5): Preparation of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)-5-methylbenzoicacid. To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)-5-methylbenzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step G (4), 110 mg, 0.16 mmol) in THF (2 mL) was added a solution ofLiOH (18 mg, 0.8 mmol) in H₂O (0.4 mL). This reaction mixture wasstirred at rt for 2 h. MeOH (2 mL) was added to the reaction mixture andstirred for another 2 h at rt. Ethyl ether (100 mL) was added to themixture and washed with 1N HCl, H₂O, dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated invacuo to give 105 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δppm 0.05 (3H, s), 0.10 (3H, s), 0.93 (3H, m), 0.97 (9H, s), 1.47 (9H,s), 1.58 (2H, m), 2.26 (1H, m), 2.39 (3H, s), 2.47-2.52 (1H, m), 2.61(1H, m), 3.07 (1H, m), 3.27 (1H, m), 3.37 (1H, dt, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.47(1H, dt, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.86 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.97 (1H, m), 4.12 (1H,m), 4.36 (1H, m), 4.50 (1H, m), 6.47 (1H, m), 6.89 (1H, s), 6.90 (1H,s), 7.90 (1H, s), 7.95 (1H, s), 8.26 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 8.54 (1H, s). MS(ESI) (M−H)⁻ 689.49.

Preparation H3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzoicacid

Step H (1): (R)-methyl3-bromo-5-(2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)benzoate. To asolution of 3-bromo-5-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid (1.8 g, 6.95 mmol)in dichloromethane (100 mL) and was added Hunig's base (2.7 g, 20.85mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU (3.17 g, 8.34 mmol) was thenadded. After stirring for 30 min, the reaction mixture was added(R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine (800 mg, 6.95 mmol) and the reactionmixture was stirred at rt for 6 h. Dichloromethane (100 mL) was addedand the mixture was washed with 1N NaOH, H₂O and concentrated undervacuum. The crude mixture was purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 20% to 40% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 1.8g of the title compound (73% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm1.77-2.08 (4H, m), 3.14-3.47 (5H, m), 3.63 (2H, brd s), 3.82 (3H, s),4.41 (1H, brd s), 7.83 (1H, s), 8.07 (1H, s), 8.20 (1H, m).

Step H (2): Preparation of methyl3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzoate.To a solution of oxazole (2.0 g, 29.0 mmol) in THF (30 mL) was addedn-butyl lithium (2.0 M solution in cyclohexanes, 16 mL, 31.9 mmol) at−78° C. slowly. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 1.2 h,then tributylstannyl chloride (5.0 g, 15.4 mmol) was added. The reactionmixture was warmed up to rt over 3 h. Hexanes (200 mL) was added and themixture was washed with H₂O, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated undervacuum to give 5.6 g of the 2-(tributylstannyl)oxazole ready for use.

To a solution of (R)-methyl3-bromo-5-(2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)benzoate (Step H (1),350 mg, 1.0 mmol) in dioxane (5 mL) were added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (173.5 mg, 0.15mmol) and 2-(tributylstannyl)oxazole (1.8 g, 5.0 mmol) above made andthe reaction mixture was stirred at 95° C. with sealed cap for 16 h.Ethyl acetate (200 mL) was added and the mixture was washed with H₂O andconcentrated under vacuum. The crude mixture was purified by silica gelFlash Chromatography (0% to 30% to 50% to 70% EtOAc/Hexane stepgradient) to give 250 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz)δ ppm 1.75-2.11 (4H, m), 3.08 (1H, brd s), 3.38 (3H, s), 3.50 (1H, m),3.63 (2H, s), 3.83 (3H, s), 4.43 (1H, s), 7.24 (1H, s), 7.73 (1H, s),8.22 (1H, s), 8.35 (1H, s), 8.71 (1H, s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 345.26.

Step H (3): Preparation of3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzoicacid. To a solution of methyl3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzoate(Step H (2), (250 mg) in THF (5 mL) was added a solution of LiOH (60 mg)in H₂O (1 mL). MeOH (1 mL) to make a homogeneous solution. This reactionmixture was stirred at rt for 1 h. Ethyl ether (150 mL) was added to themixture and washed with 1N NaOH and the aqueous layer was neutralizedwith conc. HCl to pH˜1. The mixture was extracted with diethyl ether andthe organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give90 mg of the title compound (28% yield over 2 steps): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500MHz) δ ppm 1.75-2.06 (4H, m), 3.08 (1H, m), 3.24-4.06 (6H, m), 4.46 (1H,m), 7.30 (1H, s), 7.75 (1H, s), 8.30 (1H, s), 8.37 (1H, s), 8.82 (1H,s), 8.98 (1H, brd s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 331.22.

Preparation I (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-hydroxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate

Step I (1): 3-Bromo-5-nitrobenzoic acid. To a solution of3-amino-5-nitrobenzoic acid (4.0 g, 21.98 mmol) in HBr (48% in H₂O, 40mL) was added NaNO₂ (2.0 g, 28.98 mmol) in portions over 25 min. ThenCuBr (2.0 g) in HBr (48% in H₂O, 10 mL) was added to the above mixtureslowly. The mixture was stirred at 65° C. for 2 h. H₂O (300 mL) wasadded and the mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (300 mL) twice.The combined organic layers were washed with H₂O, dried over sodiumsulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 5.3 g of the titlecompound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 8.50 (1H, m), 8.62 (1H, m), 8.74(1H, m).

Step I (2): 3-Nitro-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoic acid. To a solutionof 3-bromo-5-nitrobenzoic acid (Step I (1), 366 mg, 1.5 mmol) in dioxane(5 mL) were added pyrrolidin-2-one (255 mg, 3 mmol),4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (130 mg, 0.225 mmol),tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)-chloroform adduct (78 mg, 0.075mmol) and cesium carbonate (1.22 g, 3.75 mmol). The mixture was stirredat 95° C. for 2 days. 1N NaOH (100 mL) was added and the mixture waswashed with diethyl ether (80 mL) twice. The aqueous layer wasneutralized with conc. HCl to pH˜1 and extracted with ethyl acetate (100mL) twice. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, andconcentrated in vacuo to give 310 mg of the title compound (83% yield):¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 2.25 (2H, m), 2.68 (2H, m), 4.04 (2H, m),8.55 (1H, m), 8.58 (1H, m), 8.90 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M−H)⁻ 249.09.

Step I (3): 3-Amino-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoic acid. A suspensionof 3-nitro-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoic acid (Step I (2), 180 mg) andpalladium on carbon (10 wt %, 50 mg) in MeOH (15 mL) was shaken inhydrogenator under hydrogen at 50 psi for 3 h. The mixture was filteredand concentrated in vacuo to give 140 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR(CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 2.16 (2H, m), 2.59 (2H, m), 3.89 (2H, t, J=5 Hz),7.21 (1H, m), 7.26 (1H, m), 7.49 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 221.14.

Step I (4): 3-Hydroxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoic acid. To asolution of 3-amino-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoic acid (Step I (3),140 mg, 0.63 mmol) in 2N HCl (2 mL) were added MeOH (2 mL) followed byNaNO₂ (88 mg, 1.26 mmol) in portions at −10° C. After the mixture waswarmed up to 0° C., H₂O (3 mL) was added to the above mixture and themixture was stirred at 95° C. for 1 h. 0.1N HCl (30 mL) was added andthe mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL) three times. Thecombined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered andconcentrated in vacuo to give 130 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR(CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 2.19 (2H, m), 2.62 (2H, m), 3.94 (2H, m), 7.27(1H, m), 7.47 (1H, m), 7.66 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M−H)⁻ 220.12.

Step I (5): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-hydroxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of 3-hydroxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoic acid (Step I(4), 56 mg, 0.25 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) was added HATU (125 mg, 0.33 mmol)followed by (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Example 1, Step 1 (A), 133 mg, 0.25 mmol) in dichloromethane (1.5 mL)and Hunig's base (65 mg, 0.5 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirredat rt overnight. Ethyl acetate (100 mL) was added and the mixture waswashed with H₂O and concentrated under vacuum. The crude mixture waspurified by silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 20% to 40% to 60%EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 65 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR(CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.01 (3H, s), 0.09 (3H, s), 0.85-0.90 (12H, s),1.45-1.53 (11H, m), 2.09-2.21 (3H, m), 2.26-2.30 (1H, m), 2.62 (1H, dd,J=5, 10 Hz), 2.66 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 2.78 (2H, s), 3.07 (1H, dd,J=5, 15 Hz), 3.16 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.28-3.38 (2H, m), 3.75-3.99(4H, m), 4.03-4.09 (1H, m), 4.21 (1H, m), 4.37-4.44 (1H, m), 6.54 (1H,m), 6.70 (1H, d, J=5 Hz), 6.78 (1H, d, J=5 Hz), 6.90 (1H, s), 7.02 (1H,s), 7.70 (1H, s), 7.86 (1H, d, J=10 Hz). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 732.43.

Preparation J (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-phenylpropyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate

In a manner identical to the preparation of the compound of PreparationB, but using hydrocinnamic acid,(S)-4-benzyl-3-((3-phenyl)propanoyl)-oxazolidin-2-one was prepared. In amanner identical to the preparation of the compound of Preparation A,but using the above starting material, the title compound of PreparationJ was prepared. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.02 (s, 3 H) 0.07 (s, 3H) 0.92 (s, 10 H) 1.47 (s, 9 H) 1.69 (s, 1 H) 2.16 (s, 2 H) 2.40 (d,J=11.90 Hz, 1 H) 3.16 (d, J=13.73 Hz, 2 H) 3.91 (m, 4 H) 4.19 (dd,J=5.95, 4.42 Hz, 1 H) 4.92 (m, 2 H) 5.15 (d, J=9.46 Hz, 1 H) 5.25 (d,J=17.09 Hz, 1 H) 5.86 (m, 1 H) 7.26 (m, 11 H) MS (ESI) (M+H-Boc)⁺525.23

EXAMPLE 1N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)benzamide

Step 1 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Preparation A, 1.1 g, 1.17 mmol) in MeOH (25 mL) was added a catalyticamount of Pd on activated charcoal (10 wt %, 150 mg). The reactionmixture was put on hydrogenator at 50 psi for 6 h. The mixture was thenfiltered and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound ready fornext step without purification: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.02 (6H, s),0.87 (3H, m), 0.89 (9H, s), 1.12 (1H, m), 1.44 (9H, s), 1.52 (2H, m),2.12-2.16 (2H, m), 2.33 (1H, t, J=10 Hz), 2.91-3.04 (3H, m), 3.27-3.38(2H, m), 3.78-3.89 (2H, m), 4.06-4.07 (2H, m), 4.18 (1H, s), 6.58-6.61(1H, m), 6.71-6.72 (2H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 529.25.

Step 1 (B): 2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of 3-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoic acid (450 mg, 2.5 mmol) indichloromethane (20 mL) and DMF (5 mL) was added Hunig's base (646 mg,5.01 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU (1.08 g, 2.84 mmol) wasthen added. After stirring for 20 min, the reaction mixture was added(2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 1 (A), 900 mg, 1.67 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred atrt overnight. Ethyl acetate (200 mL) was added and the mixture waswashed with H₂O, dried and concentrated. The crude mixture was purifiedby silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 20% to 40% to 60% to 80%EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 1.02 g of the title compound (88%yield for 2 steps): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.02 (3H, s), 0.06 (3H,s), 0.84 (9H, s), 0.86-0.89 (3H, m), 1.52 (9H, s), 2.00-2.05 (2H, m),2.20 (1H, d, J=15 Hz), 2.68 (1H, dd, J=10, Hz), 2.92 (1H, m), 3.27-3.37(3H, m), 3.76 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.91 (3H, s), 3.99 (1H, s),4.07-4.12 (2H, m), 4.64 (1H, m), 6.59 (1H, m), 6.78 (2H, d, J=5 Hz),7.46-7.49 (1H, m), 8.08 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 8.12 (1H, d, J=5 Hz), 8.29(1H, brd s), 8.56 (1H, s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 691.33.

Step 1 (C):3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)benzoicacid. To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 1 (B), 330 mg, 0.48 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) was added a solution ofLiOH (23 mg, 0.96 mmol) in H₂O (1 mL). This reaction mixture was stirredat rt for 24 h. Ethyl ether (150 mL) was added to the mixture and washedwith 1N HCl, H₂O, dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give 300mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.04 (3H, s), 0.11(3H, s), 0.90-0.93 (3H, m), 0.96 (9H, s), 1.46 (9H, s), 1.57 (2H, m),2.23-2.29 (1H, m), 2.45-2.50 (1H, m), 2.63 (1H, m), 3.09 (1H, m), 3.26(1H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz), 3.35-3.39 (1H, m), 3.43-3.48 (1H, m), 3.86 (1H,m), 3.97 (1H, m), 4.13 (1H, m), 4.39 (1H, m), 4.48 (1H, m), 6.47-6.50(1H, m), 6.90 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.44-7.47 (1H, m), 8.08 (1H, d, J=5 Hz),8.15 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 8.31 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 8.73 (1H, s). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 677.30.

Step 1 (D): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)benzoicacid (Step 1 (C), 50 mg, 0.074 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) and DMF(5 mL) was added Hunig's base (28 mg, 0.222 mmol) to make a clearsolution and HATU (36 mg, 0.0962 mmol) was then added. After stirringfor 20 min, the reaction mixture was added(R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine (17 mg, 0.148 mmol) and the reactionmixture was stirred at rt overnight. Ethyl acetate (100 mL) was addedand the mixture was washed with Brine, H₂O, dried and concentrated togive 45 mg of the title compound (79% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ0.02 (3H, s), 0.05 (3H, s), 0.83 (9H, s), 0.86-0.89 (3H, m), 1.48-1.51(11H, m), 1.72 (1H, m), 1.91-2.07 (4H, m), 2.18 (1H, d, J=15 Hz), 2.64(1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 2.90-2.94 (1H, m), 3.02 (1H, brd s), 3.28-3.38(6H, m), 3.48 (1H, m), 3.55 (1H, m), 3.67 (1H, m), 3.74 (1H, m), 3.98(1H, m), 4.04-4.12 (2H, m), 4.42 (1H, m), 4.59 (1H, m), 6.57-6.60 (1H,m), 6.76 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.41-7.44 (1H, m), 7.60-7.62 (1H, m), 7.88(1H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.96 (1H, s), 8.08 (1H, brd s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 774.40.

Step 1 (E):N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)benzamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 1 (D), 45 mg) in mixture of trifluoroacetic acid (1.5 mL), aceticacid (1.5 mL), THF (1 mL) and H₂O (0.5 mL) was stirred at 70° C. for 7h. The solvent was removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phaseHPLC (30×50 mm Xterra column, 30-100% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give thetitle compound of example 1: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ 0.96-0.99 (3H,m), 1.63 (2H, m), 1.80 (1H, m), 2.03 (2H, m), 2.09-2.20 (2H, m), 2.52(1H, m), 2.88 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 3.02 (1H, brd s), 3.33-3.50 (9H,m), 3.65 (2H, m), 3.81 (1H, m), 4.06 (1H, m), 4.20-4.29 (2H, m), 4.39(1H, m), 6.75 (1H, m), 6.90 (2H, m), 7.52-7.55 (1H, m), 7.66 (1H, d, J=5Hz), 7.75-7.78 (2H, m), 8.47 (1H, d, J=10 Hz). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 560.28.

EXAMPLE 2N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³-methyl-N³-propylisophthalamide

Step 2 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)benzoicacid (Step 1 (C), 60 mg, 0.088 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) was addedHunig's base (34 mg, 0.267 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU (45mg, 0.12 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, the reactionmixture was added N-methylpropan-1-amine (13 mg, 0.178 mmol) and thereaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. Ethyl acetate (100 mL) wasadded and the mixture was washed with Brine, H₂O, dried and concentratedto give 55 mg of the title compound (85% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz)δ 0.02 (3H, s), 0.05 (3H, s), 0.71-0.76 (1H, m), 0.83 (9H, s), 0.87 (3H,m), 0.91-1.00 (2H, m), 1.40-1.53 (12H, m), 1.60-1.67 (1H, m), 2.01-2.05(1H, m), 2.17-2.20 (1H, m), 2.64 (1H, m), 2.89-3.04 (4H, m), 3.17 (1H,brd s), 3.27-3.36 (3H, m), 3.48 (1H, brd s), 3.74 (1H, m), 3.97 (1H, m),4.04-4.11 (2H, m), 4.58 (1H, m), 6.58 (1H, m), 6.76 (2H, d, J=5 Hz),7.41-7.48 (2H, m), 7.86 (2H, s), 8.13 (1H, brd s).

Step 2 (B):N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³-methyl-N³-propylisophthalamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 2 (A), 55 mg) in mixture of trifluoroacetic acid (1.5 mL), aceticacid (1.5 mL), THF (1 mL) and H₂O (0.5 mL) was stirred at 70° C. for 7h. The solvent was removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phaseHPLC (30×50 mm Xterra column, 30-100% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 34mg of the title compound of example 2 (85% yield): ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500MHz) δ 0.74 (1H, m), 0.96-0.99 (3H, m), 1.02 (2H, m), 1.54-1.66 (3H, m),1.73 (1H, m), 2.17 (1H, m), 2.48-2.54 (1H, m), 2.87 (1H, m), 3.21 (1H,m), 3.33-3.49 (8H, m), 3.53 (1H, m), 3.82 (1H, m), 4.06 (1H, dd, J=5, 10Hz), 4.20-4.28 (2H, m), 6.74 (1H, m), 6.90 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.52-7.57(2H, m), 7.66 (1H, m), 7.76 (1H, d, J=5 Hz). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 518.28.

EXAMPLE 3N¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹-methylisophthalamide

Step 3 (A): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)benzoicacid (Step 1 (C), 66 mg, 0.10 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) were addedHATU (46 mg, 0.12 mmol) and N-methylbutan-1-amine (12 mg, 0.13 mmol) andthe reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. The crude mixture waspurified by silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 20% to 40% to 60% to80% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 60 mg of the title compound (80%yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.02 (3H, s), 0.05 (3H, s), 0.75 (2H,m), 0.83 (9H, s), 0.88 (3H, m), 0.93-0.96 (2H, m), 1.12 (1H, m),1.35-1.41 (1H, m), 1.48-1.53 (11H, m), 1.61 (1H, m), 2.01-2.06 (1H, m),2.19 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 2.66 (1H, m), 2.89-2.93 (3H, m), 3.04 (1H, s),3.21 (1H, brd s), 3.27-3.36 (3H, m), 3.51 (1H, brd s), 3.75 (1H, dd,J=5, 15 Hz), 3.97 (1H, m), 4.05-4.11 (2H, m), 4.60 (1H, m), 6.59 (1H,m), 6.76 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.41-7.48 (2H, m), 7.87 (2H, s), 8.13 (1H, brds). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 746.36.

Step 3 (B): Preparation ofN¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹-methylisophthalamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 3 (A), 60 mg) in mixture of trifluoroacetic acid (1.0 mL), aceticacid (1.5 mL), THF (0.5 mL) and H₂O (0.5 mL) was stirred at 70° C. for 6h. The solvent was removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phaseHPLC (30×50 mm Xterra column, 30-100% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give thetitle compound of example 3: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ 0.76-0.79 (2H,m), 0.96-0.98 (3H, m), 1.01-1.04 (2H, m), 1.14 (1H, m), 1.41-1.47 (1H,m), 1.52-1.55 (1H, m), 1.59-1.70 (3H, m), 2.17 (1H, m), 2.48-2.54 (1H,m), 2.87 (1H, m), 3.24 (1H, m), 3.33-3.50 (7H, m), 3.57 (1H, m), 3.82(1H, m), 4.06 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 4.21-4.28 (2H, m), 6.74 (1H, t, J=10Hz), 6.90 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.52-7.55 (2H, m), 7.66 (1H, s), 7.76 (1H, d,J=5 Hz). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 532.25.

EXAMPLE 4N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1(2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide

Step 4 (A):N¹-((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-benzhydrylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide.To a solution of 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid (31 mg, 0.12 mmol) indichloromethane (3 mL) were added Hunig's base (43 mg, 0.33 mmol) andHATU (54 mg, 0.143 mmol). After stirring for 20 min, the reactionmixture was added(1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-benzhydrylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-2-amino-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-1-ol(Preparation (C), 54 mg, 0.11 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirredat rt overnight. The crude mixture was purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 20% to 40% to 50% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) togive 70 mg of the title compound (89% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ0.74 (3H, brd s), 1.00 (3H, brd s), 1.53 (2H, brd s), 1.73 (2H, brd s),2.02-2.09 (1H, m), 2.17 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 2.26 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz),2.68 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 2.84 (1H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz), 2.96 (1H, dd, J=5, 15Hz), 3.09 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 3.16 (2H, brd s), 3.25 (1H, d, J=10 Hz),3.49 (2H, brd s), 3.91-3.93 (2H, m), 3.96-4.11 (3H, m), 4.50 (1H, s),4.91 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 5.22 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 5.31 (1H, m),5.90-5.98 (1H, m), 6.64-6.69 (3H, m), 6.91-6.97 (3H, m), 7.15-7.20 (3H,m), 7.22-7.25 (2H, m), 7.34 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.47-7.57 (4H, m). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 710.37.

Step 4 (B):N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide.To a solution ofN¹-((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-4-(allyloxy)-1-benzhydrylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide(Step 4 (A), 70 mg) in MeOH (5 mL) were added a catalytic amount of Pdon activated charcoal (10 wt %, 20 mg) and acetic acid (0.5 mL). Thereaction mixture was put on hydrogenator at 50 psi for 3.5 h. Themixture was then filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude mixturewas purified by silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 5% to 10% to 15%to 20% MeOH/dichloromethane step gradient) to give the title compound ofexample 4 (40 mg, 74% yield): ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ 0.70-0.73 (3H,m), 0.95-0.98 (3H, m), 1.00-1.03 (3H, m), 1.54 (2H, m), 1.62 (2H, m),1.74 (2H, m), 2.09 (1H, m), 2.39-2.44 (1H, m), 2.88 (1H, m), 3.16-3.24(3H, m), 3.29 (1H, m), 3.38-3.50 (6H, m), 3.66 (1H, m), 4.02 (1H, m),4.19-4.23 (1H, m), 4.24-4.29 (1H, m), 6.73 (1H, m), 6.89-6.92 (2H, m),7.50-7.56 (2H, m), 7.64 (1H, s), 7.78-7.80 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺546.33.

EXAMPLE 5N¹-((1S,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((R)-morpholin-3-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide

Step 5 (A):N¹-((1S,2S)-1-((R)-4-benzhydrylmorpholin-3-yl)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide.To a solution of 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid (Preparation E, 14mg, 0.055 mmol) in dichloromethane (1 mL) was added Hunig's base (18 mg,0.14 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU (25 mg, 0.064 mmol) wasthen added. After stirring for 20 min, the reaction mixture was added(1S,2S)-2-amino-14R)-4-benzhydrylmorpholin-3-yl)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-1-ol(Preparation D, (20 mg, 0.046 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirredat rt overnight. Dichloromethane (100 mL) was added and washed with H₂O(50 mL) twice, dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated to give the titlecompound as a crude product ready for next step without purification: ¹HNMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ 0.71 (3H, m), 1.01 (3H, m), 1.52 (2H, m), 1.74(2H, m), 2.52 (1H, d, J=5 Hz), 2.63 (2H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz), 2.71 (1H, m),3.12-3.19 (3H, m), 3.44-3.49 (3H, m), 3.94-3.99 (2H, m), 4.04 (1H, m),4.58 (1H, m), 5.06 (1H, m), 5.50 (1H, s), 6.76 (1H, m), 6.92-6.95 (2H,m), 7.14-7.19 (3H, m), 7.25-7.32 (3H, m), 7.44 (2H, m), 7.49-7.55 (2H,m), 7.58 (2H, d, J=10 Hz), 7.63 (1H, s), 7.73-7.76 (1H, m).

Step 5 (B):N¹-((1S,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((R)-morpholin-3-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide.To a solution ofN¹-((1S,2S)-1-((R)-4-benzhydrylmorpholin-3-yl)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide(Step 5 (A), 30 mg) in MeOH (5 mL) were added a catalytic amount of Pdon activated charcoal (10 wt %, 15 mg) and acetic acid (0.2 mL). Thereaction mixture was put on hydrogenator at 50 psi for 3 h. The mixturewas then filtered and concentrated in vacuo and purified by reversephase HPLC to give the title compound of example 5: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500MHz) δ 0.72 (3H, t, J=5 Hz), 1.02 (3H, m), 1.54 (2H, m), 1.74 (2H, m),2.87 (1H, m), 3.17 (2H, m), 3.26-3.39 (3H, m), 3.48-3.51 (3H, m), 3.72(1H, m), 3.84 (1H, m), 4.00 (2H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 4.19 (1H, m), 4.40(1H, m), 6.75 (1H, m), 6.87-6.90 (2H, m), 7.53-7.57 (2H, m), 7.62 (1H,s), 7.76-7.78 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 504.25.

EXAMPLE 6N¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R)-4-hydroxy-4-phenylpyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹-methylisophthalamide

Step 6 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl4-(allyloxy)-2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Preparation A, 730 mg, 1.11 mmol) in H₂O/EtOH (0.8/7 mL) were addedRhCl(PPh₃)₃ (77 mg, 0.083 mmol) and DABCO (25 mg, 0.22 mmol). Themixture was stirred at 140° C. for 3 h and then cooled to rt. MeOH (20mL) and 1N NaOH solution (5 mL) were added followed by 0.1% KMnO₄solution (5 mL) dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 1.5h and quenched with H₂O. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate(300 mL) twice and solvent was removed. Flash chromatography (silicagel, 0% to 10% to 20% to 35% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) gave the titlecompound (530 mg, 77% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.10-0.13 (6H,m), 0.93 (9H, s), 1.22-1.27 (2H, m), 1.46 (9H, s), 2.13 (2H, s),3.23-3.25 (2H, m), 3.54-3.89 (2H, m), 4.12 (1H, m), 4.22 (1H, s), 4.32(1H, m), 4.86-5.03 (3H, m), 6.60-6.70 (3H, m), 7.17 (2H, s), 7.27-7.28(3H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 621.25.

Step 6 (B): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 6 (A), 330 mg) in MeOH (8 mL) was added a catalytic amount of Pdon activated charcoal (10 wt %, 50 mg). The reaction mixture was put onhydrogenator at 50 psi for 3 h. The mixture was then filtered andconcentrated in vacuo to give the title compound (230 mg, 89% yield): ¹HNMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.11-0.13 (6H, m), 0.92 (9H, s), 1.46 (9H, s),2.21 (1H, m), 2.35 (1H, t, J=10 Hz), 2.46 (1H, d, J=15 Hz), 3.10 (2H,dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.29 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 3.46 (1H, m), 4.21-4.36 (3H, m),6.64-6.73 (3H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 487.21.

Step 6 (C): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of 3-(butyl(methyl)carbamoyl)benzoic acid (Preparation F,146 mg, 0.62 mmol) in dichloromethane (8 mL) was added Hunig's base (182mg, 1.41 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU (250 mg, 0.66 mmol) wasthen added. After stirring for 30 min, the reaction mixture was added(2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 6 (B), 230 mg, 0.47 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred atrt for 3 h. The crude mixture was purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 20% to 40% to 60% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) togive 350 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.01-0.07(6H, m), 0.66 (2H, m), 0.83 (9H, s), 1.02 (1H, m), 1.30 (1H, m), 1.38(9H, s), 1.53 (1H, m), 2.10 (2H, s), 2.60 (1H, m), 2.70 (1H, m), 2.79(2H, s), 2.89-2.94 (2H, m), 3.09-3.16 (3H, m), 3.43 (1H, brd s), 3.56(1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.97-4.02 (2H, m), 4.16 (1H, brd s), 4.31-4.38(2H, m), 6.48 (1H, m), 6.65-6.71 (2H, m), 7.25-7.34 (2H, m), 7.56-7.63(2H, m), 7.83 (1H, s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 704.43.

Step 6 (D): (R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-oxopyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 6 (C), (320 mg, 0.455 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) was addedDess-Martin reagent (386 mg, 0.91 mmol) and the mixture was stirred atrt for 5 h. Ethyl acetate (300 mL) was added and the mixture was washedwith 1N NaOH, H₂O, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the titlecompound (280 mg): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.01 (3H, s), 0.10 (3H, s),0.71 (2H, m), 0.86 (9H, s), 0.95-0.97 (2H, m), 1.07 (1H, m), 1.44 (11H,m), 1.62 (1H, m), 2.69-2.75 (3H, m), 2.81-2.86 (2H, m), 3.03 (1H, s),3.12-3.22 (2H, m), 3.47-3.54 (1H, m), 3.64 (1H, d, J=20 Hz), 3.82 (1H,d, J=20 Hz), 4.23-4.27 (2H, m), 4.50 (1H, m), 6.55 (1H, t, J=10 Hz),6.78 (2H, m), 7.25 (1H, s), 7.36 (1H, s), 7.43-7.52 (2H, m). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 702.31.

Step 6 (E): Preparation of (2R)-tent-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxy-4-phenylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-oxopyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 6 (D), 25 mg, 0.036 mmol) in THF (1 mL) was added phenylmagnesiumbromide (3.0 M in diethyl ether, 0.0144 mL, 0.0432 mmol) at −20° C.After stirring for 20 min, the reaction mixture was warmed up to 0° C.and stirred for 30 min and another portion of phenylmagnesium bromide(3.0 M in diethyl ether, 0.0144 mL, 0.0432 mmol) was added and thereaction mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. Another portion ofphenylmagnesium bromide (3.0 M in diethyl ether, 0.024 mL, 0.072 mmol)was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 2 days. H₂O (50mL) was added and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, dried(Na₂SO₄) and concentrated. The crude mixture was purified by silica gelFlash Chromatography (0% to 20% to 40% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) togive 12 mg of the title compound (42% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ0.15 (3H, s), 0.20 (3H, s), 0.72-0.79 (1H, m), 0.86 (1H, m), 0.96 (9H,s), 1.08-1.11 (1H, m), 1.45 (9H, s), 1.58-1.62 (1H, m), 1.77 (3H, s),2.52 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 2.63 (1H, m), 2.87-3.04 (3H, m), 3.16 (1H, brd s),3.28 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 3.51 (1H, brd s), 3.66 (1H, d, J=15 Hz), 3.78(1H, d, J=10 Hz), 3.95 (1H, m), 4.30 (1H, s), 4.56 (2H, s), 6.59 (1H, t,J=10 Hz), 6.78 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.14 (1H, m), 7.24-7.27 (1H, m), 7.34(2H, m), 7.39 (1H, m), 7.46-7.50 (3H, m), 7.68 (2H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺780.49.

Step 6 (F): Preparation ofN¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R)-4-hydroxy-4-phenylpyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹-methylisophthalamide.The solution of (2R)-tent-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxy-4-phenylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 6 (E), 10 mg) in THF (0.5 mL) was added HCl (4.0 M in dioxane, 0.3mL) and the mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h and 2 drops of H₂O wasadded. After stirring for another 1 h, the solvent was removed andpurified by reverse phase HPLC (21.2×50 mm PHENOMENEX-LUNA S5 column,flow rate 25 mL/min, gradient time 12 min, 20-100% methanol/H₂O/0.1%TFA) to give 3 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ 0.76(1H, m), 0.90-0.93 (1H, m), 1.03 (1H, m), 1.14 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz),1.31 (1H, m), 1.45 (1H, m), 1.65-1.71 (1H, m), 2.64 (1H, d, J=10 Hz),2.92-2.97 (2H, m), 3.09 (1H, s), 3.24 (1H, m), 3.44 (1H, m), 3.53-3.64(4H, m), 4.12-4.19 (2H, m), 4.28-4.32 (1H, m), 6.75 (1H, m), 6.92-6.94(2H, m), 7.32 (1H, m), 7.39 (2H, m), 7.53-7.56 (4H, m), 7.66 (1H, s),7.76-7.78 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 566.35.

EXAMPLE 7N¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R)-4-phenylpyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹-methylisophthalamide

Step 7 (A): (R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyrrole-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (2R)-tent-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-hydroxy-4-phenylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 6 (B), 8 mg) in dichloromethane (0.3 mL) was added Et₃SiH (0.5 mL)and the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. TFA (0.5 mL) was added andthe mixture was stirred at rt for another 2 h. Solvent was removed andTFA (0.5 mL) and Et₃SiH (0.5 mL) were added and the mixture was stirredat rt for 2 days. The mixture was concentrated in vacuum and the crudeproduct was ready for next step without further purification.

Step 7 (B): Preparation ofN¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1(2R)-4-phenylpyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹-methylisophthalamide.To a solution of (R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyrrole-1-carboxylate(Step 7 (A), 15 mg) in MeOH (1 mL) was added a catalytic amount of Pd onactivated charcoal (10 wt %, 10 mg). The reaction mixture was put onhydrogenator at 50 psi for 3 h. The mixture was then filtered andconcentrated in vacuo. To the above residue were added dioxane (0.5 mL)and 2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. Solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC to givethe title compound (9 mg): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.77 (2H, m), 1.03(2H, m), 1.14 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 1.45 (1H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz), 1.54(1H, m), 1.69 (1H, m), 2.33 (1H, m), 2.58 (1H, m), 2.89 (1H, m), 2.94(1H, s), 3.09 (1H, s), 3.23-3.29 (2H, m), 3.44 (1H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz),3.57 (2H, m), 3.74 (1H, m), 4.00 (1H, m), 4.17 (1H, m), 4.26 (1H, m),6.74 (1H, t, J=10 Hz), 6.89 (2H, d, J=10 Hz), 7.31 (1H, m), 7.36-7.40(4H, m), 7.53-7.56 (2H, m), 7.67 (1H, s), 7.76-7.78 (1H, m). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 550.31.

EXAMPLE 8N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-methylbenzamide

Step 8 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-methylbenzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)-5-methylbenzoicacid (Preparation G, 28 mg, 0.038 mmol) in dichloromethane (1 mL) wasadded Hunig's base (14 mg, 0.114 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU(19 mg, 0.05 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, thereaction mixture was added (R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine (65 mg,0.057 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. Ethylacetate (100 mL) was added and the mixture was washed with Brine, H₂O,dried and concentrated to give 30 mg of the title compound (95% yield):¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.01 (3H, s), 0.06 (3H, s), 0.85 (9H, s),0.88 (3H, t, J=5 Hz), 1.48-1.54 (11H, m), 1.73 (1H, m), 1.92-2.09 (5H,m), 2.18 (1H, m), 2.38 (3H, s), 2.62 (1H, m), 2.96 (1H, m), 3.05 (1H,m), 3.26-3.39 (5H, m), 3.47 (1H, m), 3.58 (1H, m), 3.68 (1H, m), 3.76(1H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz), 3.97 (1H, m), 4.04-4.07 (1H, m), 4.11-4.14 (1H,m), 4.41 (1H, brd s), 4.56 (1H, m), 6.59 (1H, m), 6.76 (1H, s), 6.77(1H, s), 7.43 (1H, s), 7.72 (1H, s), 7.74 (1H, s), 7.98 (1H, brd s). MS(ESI) (M+H)⁺ 788.61.

Step 8 (B): Preparation ofN-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-methylbenzamide.To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-methylbenzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 8(A), 30 mg) in dioxane containing HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane,1 mL) was added 2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 3h. The solvent was removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phaseHPLC (20×50 mm YMC ODS-A S5 column, 34-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) togive 12 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.97(3H, m), 1.63 (2H, m), 1.79 (1H, m), 1.98-2.05 (2H, m), 2.10 (1H, dd,J=5, 10 Hz), 2.17 (1H, m), 2.42 (3H, s), 2.52 (1H, m), 2.87 (1H, m),3.03 (1H, brd s), 3.29-3.51 (9H, m), 3.65 (2H, m), 3.80 (1H, m), 4.04(1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 4.21 (1H, m), 4.27 (1H, m), 4.38 (1H, m), 6.76(1H, m), 6.90 (2H, m), 7.47 (1H, s), 7.52 (1H, s), 7.58 (1H, s). MS(ESI) (M+H)⁺ 574.38.

EXAMPLE 9N¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹,5-dimethylisophthalamide

Step 9 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-(benzamido)-5-methylbenzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)-5-methylbenzoicacid (Preparation G, 26 mg, 0.037 mmol) in dichloromethane (1 mL) wasadded Hunig's base (15 mg, 0.114 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU(19 mg, 0.05 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, thereaction mixture was added methylbutylamine (5 mg, 0.057 mmol) and thereaction mixture was stirred at rt for 6 h. The crude mixture waspurified by silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 10% to 30%EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 24 mg of the title compound (85%yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.02 (3H, s), 0.06 (3H, s),0.72-0.97 (15H, m), 1.12 (1H, m), 1.36-1.53 (11H, m), 1.61 (1H, m), 1.78(2H, s), 2.05 (1H, m), 2.19 (1H, m), 2.38 (3H, s), 2.62 (1H, m),2.91-2.95 (3H, m), 3.04 (1H, s), 3.21 (1H, m), 3.27-3.36 (3H, m), 3.50(1H, m), 3.76 (1H, m), 3.98 (1H, m), 4.03-4.06 (1H, m), 4.10-4.12 (1H,m), 4.56 (1H, m), 6.59 (1H, m), 6.76 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.29 (1H, d, J=10Hz), 7.64 (1H, s), 7.71 (1H, s), 8.03 (1H, brd s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺760.61.

Step 9 (B):N¹-butyl-N³-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N¹,5-dimethylisophthalamide. The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-(benzamido)-5-methylbenzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 9 (A), 24 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 1 mL) was added 2drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 3 h. The solvent wasremoved and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (20×50 mm YMCODS-A S5 column, 34-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 12 mg of thetitle compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.77 (2H, m), 0.97 (3H,m), 1.03 (2H, m), 1.14 (1H, m), 1.44 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 1.53 (1H,m), 1.59-1.71 (3H, m), 2.16 (1H, m), 2.42 (3H, s), 2.51 (1H, m), 2.87(1H, m), 2.92 (1H, s), 3.08 (1H, s), 3.24 (1H, m), 3.35-3.50 (5H, m),3.56 (1H, m), 3.80 (1H, m), 4.05 (1H, m), 4.20 (1H, m), 4.27 (1H, m),6.75 (1H, t, J=10 Hz), 6.90 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.37 (1H, s), 7.43 (1H, s),7.57 (1H, d, J=10 Hz). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 546.41.

EXAMPLE 10N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-5-methyl-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide

Step 10 (A): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-(benzamido)-5-methylbenzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)-5-methylbenzoicacid (Preparation G, 26 mg, 0.037 mmol) in dichloromethane (1 mL) wasadded Hunig's base (15 mg, 0.114 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU(18 mg, 0.05 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, thereaction mixture was added dipropylamine (6 mg, 0.057 mmol) and thereaction mixture was stirred at rt for 6 h. The crude mixture waspurified by silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 10% to 30%EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 27 mg of the title compound (90%yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.02 (3H, s), 0.06 (3H, s), 0.71(3H, m), 0.85 (9H, s), 0.88 (3H, m), 0.96 (3H, m), 1.48-1.54 (12H, m),1.67 (2H, m), 1.74 (2H, m), 2.03-2.09 (1H, m), 2.19 (1H, m), 2.38 (3H,s), 2.62 (1H, m), 2.94 (1H, m), 3.13 (2H, brd s), 3.26-3.36 (3H, m),3.43 (2H, brd s), 3.76 (1H, m), 3.97 (1H, m), 4.04-4.07 (1H, m),4.10-4.12 (1H, m), 4.58 (1H, m), 6.59 (1H, m), 6.76 (2H, d, J=5 Hz),7.25 (1H, s), 7.60 (1H, s), 7.70 (1H, s), 7.98 (1H, brd s). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 774.63.

Step 10 (B):N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-5-methyl-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-(benzamido)-5-methylbenzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 10 (A), 27 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 1 mL) was added2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 3 h. The solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (20×50 mmYMC ODS-A S5 column, 34-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 11 mg of thetitle compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.72 (3H, m), 0.97 (3H,m), 1.01 (3H, t, J=5 Hz), 1.52 (2H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 1.62 (2H, m), 1.72(2H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 2.17 (1H, m), 2.42 (3H, s), 2.51 (1H, m), 2.87(1H, m), 3.17 (2H, m), 3.35-3.50 (7H, m), 3.80 (1H, m), 4.06 (1H, dd,J=5, 10 Hz), 4.21 (1H, m), 4.27 (1H, m), 6.75 (1H, m), 6.90 (2H, m),7.33 (1H, s), 7.39 (1H, s), 7.57 (1H, s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 560.43.

EXAMPLE 11N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamide

Step 11 (A): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzoicacid (Preparation H, 40 mg, 0.12 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) wasadded Hunig's base (46 mg, 0.36 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU(60 mg, 0.156 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, thereaction mixture was added (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 1 (A), 64 mg, 0.12 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred atrt for 16 h. The crude mixture was purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 30% to 50% to 70% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) togive 70 mg of the title compound (70% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δppm 0.02 (3H, s), 0.07 (3H, s), 0.84 (9H, s), 0.87 (3H, m), 1.46-1.50(11H, m), 1.74 (1H, m), 1.92-2.06 (3H, m), 2.17-2.23 (2H, m), 2.66 (1H,m), 2.77-2.81 (2H, m), 2.92 (1H, m), 3.05 (1H, m), 3.29-3.38 (4H, m),3.48 (1H, m), 3.58 (1H, m), 3.66 (1H, m), 3.76 (1H, m), 3.98 (1H, m),4.07-4.09 (1H, m), 4.12-4.14 (1H, m), 4.43 (1H, brd s), 4.61 (1H, m),6.58 (1H, m), 6.77 (2H, d, J=10 Hz), 7.22 (1H, s), 7.69 (1H, s), 8.10(1H, s), 8.28 (1H, s), 8.53 (1H, brd s), 8.64 (1H, s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺841.61.

Step 11 (B): Preparation ofN-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 11 (A), 70 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 2 mL) was added2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. The solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (30×50 mmYMC ODS-A S5 column, 34-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 40 mg of thetitle compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.97 (3H, m), 1.63 (2H,m), 1.82 (1H, m), 2.03 (2H, m), 2.12 (1H, m), 2.19 (1H, m), 2.54 (1H,m), 2.89 (1H, m), 3.03 (1H, m), 3.36-3.53 (9H, m), 3.68 (2H, m), 3.87(1H, m), 4.08 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 4.25-4.30 (2H, m), 4.42 (1H, m),6.75 (1H, m), 6.92 (2H, m), 7.37 (1H, s), 7.85 (1H, s), 8.05 (1H, s),8.26 (1H, s), 8.39 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 627.41.

EXAMPLE 12N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-((R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamide

Step 12 (A): Preparation of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-(benzamido)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzoic acid (WO2002/02512), 45 mg, 0.14 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) was addedHunig's base (54 mg, 0.42 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU (65mg, 0.17 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 30 min, the reactionmixture was added (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 1 (A), 81 mg, 0.154 mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred atrt for 6 h. The crude mixture was purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 10% to 20% to 30% to 40% EtOAc/Hexane stepgradient) to give 110 mg of the title compound (95% yield): ¹H NMR(CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.03 (3H, s), 0.06 (3H, s), 0.69 (3H, m), 0.82(9H, s), 0.87 (3H, m), 0.96 (3H, m), 1.21-1.28 (2H, m), 1.47-1.51 (11H,m), 1.68 (2H, m), 2.01 (1H, m), 2.18 (1H, d, J=15 Hz), 2.68 (1H, dd,J=10, 15 Hz), 2.88 (1H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz), 3.14 (2H, m), 3.26-3.36 (3H,m), 3.44 (2H, m), 3.74 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.98 (1H, m), 4.08-4.11(2H, m), 4.64 (1H, dd, J=10, Hz), 6.59 (1H, m), 6.78 (2H, d, J=5 Hz),7.22 (1H, s), 7.68 (1H, s), 7.97 (1H, s), 8.14 (1H, s), 8.64 (2H, m).

Step 12 (B): Preparation ofN¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-(benzamido)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(step 12 (A), 110 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 2 mL) was added4 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. The solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (30×100mm PHENOMENEX-LUNA S10 column, 42-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give thetitle compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.74 (3H, m), 0.97 (3H,m), 1.03 (3H, m), 1.57 (1H, dd, J=5, 15 Hz), 1.63 (1H, m), 1.76 (2H, dd,J=5, 15 Hz), 2.19 (1H, m), 2.54 (1H, m), 2.90 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz),3.21 (2H, m), 3.35-3.53 (7H, m), 3.85 (1H, m), 4.08 (1H, dd, J=5, 10Hz), 4.23-4.30 (2H, m), 6.75 (1H, m), 6.92 (2H, m), 7.37 (1H, s), 7.71(1H, m), 8.06 (1H, s), 8.13 (1H, m), 8.39 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺613.27.

EXAMPLE 13N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-methoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide

Step 13 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-Butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-methoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-hydroxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Preparation I, 27 mg, 0.037 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) were added cesiumcarbonate (24 mg, 0.074 mmol) and methyl iodide (25 mg, 0.185 mmol) andthe reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h, at rt for 3 days andmicrowaved at 80° C. for 6 h. Ethyl acetate (100 mL) was added and themixture was washed with H₂O and concentrated under vacuum. The crudemixture was purified by silica gel Flash Chromatography (0% to 20% to40% to 60% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 20 mg of the titlecompound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.02 (3H, s), 0.07 (3H, s), 0.85(9H, s), 0.88 (3H, m), 1.46-1.54 (11H, m), 2.02-2.07 (1H, m), 2.10-2.16(2H, m), 2.20 (1H, m), 2.59 (2H, m), 2.64 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 2.92(1H, m), 3.28-3.37 (3H, m), 3.76 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz), 3.84 (3H, s),3.88-3.92 (2H, m), 3.98 (1H, m), 4.04-4.13 (2H, m), 4.58 (1H, m), 6.60(1H, m), 6.78 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.23 (1H, s), 7.34 (1H, s), 7.80 (1H, s),8.05 (1H, brd s). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 746.41.

Step 13 (B):N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-Difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-methoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-methoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 13 (A), 20 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 1 mL) was added2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h. The solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (30×100mm PHENOMENEX-LUNA S10 column, 34-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 5mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.97 (3H, m),1.63 (2H, m), 2.20 (3H, m), 2.53 (1H, m), 2.63 (2H, m), 2.87 (1H, m),3.35-3.51 (5H, m), 3.80 (1H, m), 3.83 (3H, s), 3.92 (2H, m), 4.04 (1H,m), 4.18 (1H, m), 4.28 (1H, m), 6.77 (1H, m), 6.90 (2H, m), 6.99 (1H,m), 7.39 (1H, m), 7.41 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 532.34.

EXAMPLE 14N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-isopropoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide

Step 14 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-isopropoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate. To a solution of(2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-hydroxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Preparation I, 38 mg, 0.05 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) were added cesiumcarbonate (29 mg, 0.09 mmol) and 2-iodopropane (42 mg, 0.25 mmol) andthe reaction mixture was microwaved at 60° C. for 2 h. Ethyl acetate(100 mL) was added and the mixture was washed with Brine, H₂O andconcentrated under vacuum. The crude mixture was purified by silica gelFlash Chromatography (0% to 20% to 30% to 40% EtOAc/Hexane stepgradient) to give 21 mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δppm 0.01 (3H, s), 0.07 (3H, s), 0.86 (9H, s), 0.88 (3H, m), 1.32 (6H, d,J=5 Hz), 1.46-1.54 (11H, m), 2.03-2.21 (4H, m), 2.59 (2H, m), 2.62 (1H,dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 2.94 (1H, m), 3.26-3.36 (3H, m), 3.76 (1H, dd, J=5, 10Hz), 3.84-3.91 (2H, m), 3.97 (1H, m), 4.04-4.07 (1H, m), 4.11-4.13 (1H,m), 4.55 (1H, m), 4.63 (1H, m), 6.59 (1H, m), 6.78 (2H, d, J=5 Hz), 7.20(1H, s), 7.33 (1H, s), 7.71 (1H, s), 7.99 (1H, d, J=10 Hz). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺ 775.45.

Step 14 (B):N-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-3-isopropoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-(3-isopropoxy-5-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzamido)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 14 (A), 21 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 1 mL) was added2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 h. The solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (21.2×50mm PHENOMENEX-LUNA S10 column, 34-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 11mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.97 (3H, m),1.32 (6H, m), 1.63 (2H, m), 2.14-2.22 (3H, m), 2.52 (1H, m), 2.62 (2H,t, J=10 Hz), 2.86 (1H, dd, J=10, 15 Hz), 3.35-3.51 (5H, m), 3.80 (1H,m), 3.91 (2H, m), 4.04 (1H, m), 4.16-4.22 (1H, m), 4.27 (1H, m), 4.62(1H, m), 6.77 (1H, m), 6.90 (2H, m), 6.96 (1H, m), 7.35 (1H, m), 7.40(1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 560.30.

EXAMPLE 15N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³-(1-phenylethyl)isophthalamide

Step 15 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-Butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)benzoicacid (Step 1 (C), 40 mg, 0.06 mmol) in dichloromethane (1.5 mL) wasadded Hunig's base (24 mg, 0.18 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU(28 mg, 0.072 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, thereaction mixture was added 1-phenylethanamine (15 mg, 0.12 mmol) and thereaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated under vacuum and purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 15% to 30% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 40mg of the title compound (87% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.01(3H, s), 0.05 (3H, s), 0.85 (9H, s), 0.89 (3H, m), 1.46 (9H, s), 1.50(2H, m), 1.58 (3H, d, J=5 Hz), 2.02-2.05 (1H, m), 2.20 (1H, dd, J=5, 10Hz), 2.64 (1H, m), 2.88-2.94 (1H, m), 3.30-3.37 (3H, m), 3.78 (1H, dd,J=5, 15 Hz), 4.00 (1H, m), 4.07-4.13 (2H, m), 4.60 (1H, m), 5.33 (1H,m), 6.56-6.61 (2H, m), 6.77 (2H, d, J=10 Hz), 7.25 (1H, m), 7.32 (2H,m), 7.37 (2H, m), 7.48 (1H, m), 7.97-8.01 (2H, m), 8.20 (1H, m),8.24-8.31 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 780.49.

Step 15 (B): Preparation ofN¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³-(1-phenylethyl)isophthalamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 15 (A), 40 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 1 mL) was added2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h. The solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (30×100mm PHENOMENEX-LUNA S5 column, 50-82% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 30mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.97 (3H, m),1.58 (3H, d, J=5 Hz), 1.62 (2H, m), 2.16 (1H, m), 2.50 (1H, m), 2.86(1H, m), 3.34-3.49 (5H, m), 3.81 (1H, m), 4.06 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz),4.21-4.25 (2H, m), 5.22-5.28 (1H, m), 6.73 (1H, m), 6.89-6.90 (2H, m),7.25 (1H, m), 7.34 (2H, m), 7.41 (2H, d, J=10 Hz), 7.53 (1H, t, J=10Hz), 7.79-7.81 (1H, m), 7.97 (1H, d, J=10 Hz), 8.12-8.13 (1H, m). MS(ESI) (M+H)⁺ 566.29.

EXAMPLE 16N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl)isophthalamide

Step 16 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-Butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of3-(((1S,2S)-1-((2R,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)benzoicacid (Step 1 (C), 40 mg, 0.06 mmol) in dichloromethane (1.5 mL) wasadded Hunig's base (24 mg, 0.18 mmol) to make a clear solution and HATU(28 mg, 0.072 mmol) was then added. After stirring for 20 min, thereaction mixture was added 1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethanamine (17 mg, 0.12mmol) and the reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight. The reactionmixture was concentrated under vacuum and purified by silica gel FlashChromatography (0% to 15% to 30% EtOAc/Hexane step gradient) to give 38mg of the title compound (84% yield): ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 0.02(3H, s), 0.05 (3H, s), 0.84 (9H, s), 0.89 (3H, m), 1.47 (9H, s), 1.50(2H, m), 1.58 (3H, d, J=5 Hz), 2.00-2.05 (1H, m), 2.22 (1H, m), 2.64(1H, m), 2.86-2.92 (1H, m), 3.28-3.37 (3H, m), 3.76 (1H, m), 4.00 (1H,m), 4.07-4.12 (2H, m), 4.61 (1H, m), 5.31 (1H, m), 6.51-6.52 (1H, m),6.60 (1H, m), 6.77 (2H, d, J=10 Hz), 7.00 (2H, m), 7.34 (2H, dd, J=5, 10Hz), 7.49 (1H, m), 7.99-8.02 (2H, m), 8.20 (1H, s), 8.33 (1H, m). MS(ESI) (M+H)⁺ 798.46.

Step 16 (B):N¹-((1R,2S)-3-(3,5-Difluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-((2R,4R)-4-propoxypyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-N³-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl)isophthalamide.The solution of (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-(3-(carbamoyl)benzamido)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)propyl)-4-propoxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(Step 16 (A), 38 mg) in HCl (4.0 M solution in dioxane, 1 mL) was added2 drops of H₂O and the mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h. The solventwas removed and the mixture was purified by reverse phase HPLC (30×100mm PHENOMENEX-LUNA S5 column, 34-90% methanol/H₂O/0.1% TFA) to give 30mg of the title compound: ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ ppm 0.97 (3H, m),1.58 (3H, d, J=5 Hz), 1.62 (2H, m), 2.17 (1H, m), 2.50 (1H, m), 2.86(1H, m), 3.34-3.49 (5H, m), 3.81 (1H, m), 4.06 (1H, dd, J=5, 10 Hz),4.22-4.25 (2H, m), 5.21-5.27 (1H, m), 6.73 (1H, m), 6.89-6.90 (2H, m),7.07 (2H, m), 7.41-7.44 (2H, m), 7.53 (1H, t, J=10 Hz), 7.79-7.82 (1H,m), 7.96 (1H, m), 8.12-8.14 (1H, m). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺ 584.32.

EXAMPLE 17N¹-((1R,2S)-1-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1-((2R,4R)-4-(propylsulfonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide

Step 17 (A): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-phenylpropyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.A solution of the compound of Preparation J (230 mg, 0.37 mmol)dissolved in a mixture of 3 mL of ethanol and 0.5 mL of water wastreated with Wilkinson's catalyst (28 mg, 8% by weight). The resultingsolution was heated to 95° C. for 16 h, then allowed to cool to rt. Asolution of KMnO₄ (117 mg, 0.74 mmol) dissolved in 0.4 mL of water wasthen added, followed by methanol until the solution became homogeneous,and the resulting reaction solution was stirred rt for 16 h. Thereaction solution was then partitioned between ethyl acetate and waterand the organic layer was separated, dried, and concentrated to a crudeproduct which was purified using column chromatography to provide 110 mgof the desired alcohol (51%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.12 (m, 6H) 0.95 (s, 9 H) 1.47 (s, 9 H) 2.16 (s, 2 H) 2.38 (t, J=11.90 Hz, 1 H)3.27 (d, J=10.68 Hz, 2 H) 3.50 (d, J=6.71 Hz, 1 H) 3.61 (s, 1 H) 3.77(s, 1 H) 3.94 (d, J=11.60 Hz, 1 H) 4.20 (s, 2 H) 4.37 (dd, J=7.32, 2.14Hz, 1 H) 4.82 (s, 1 H) 4.94 (d, J=8.85 Hz, 1 H) 7.21 (m, 10 H). MS (ESI)(M+H-Boc)⁺=485.23.

Step 17 (B): (2R,4S)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-phenylpropyl)-4-(methylsulfonyloxy)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.A solution 126 mg of triphenylphosphine (0.48 mmol) in THF (3 mL) wastreated with 84 mg (0.48 mmol) of a 40% solution of DEAD in toluene.After stirring for 5 min, 43 mg of methanesulfonic acid was added. Afteranother 5 min, a solution of the compound of Step 17 (A) (90 mg, 0.16mmol) dissolved in an additional 3 mL of THF was added, followed byDIPEA (124 mg, 0.96 mmol). The reaction solution was stirred at rt for30 min, then heated to 60° C. for 4.5 hr. The cooled reaction solutionwas partitioned between ethyl acetate and water, the organic layer wasconcentrated, and the crude product was purified by chromatographyeluting with a gradient of 5 to 20% ethyl acetate in hexanes to provide100 mg (94%) of the desired mesylate. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.02(s, 3 H) 0.11 (s, 3 H) 0.92 (s, 9 H) 1.48 (s, 9 H) 2.30 (m, 2 H) 2.46(d, J=6.10 Hz, 1 H) 2.92 (m, 2 H) 3.28 (d, J=13.12 Hz, 1 H) 3.41 (d,J=12.21 Hz, 1 H) 3.89 (d, J=12.82 Hz, 1 H) 4.18 (m, 1 H) 4.30 (m, 3 H)4.66 (d, J=9.16 Hz, 1 H) 4.82 (d, J=12.21 Hz, 1 H) 4.94 (d, J=9.16 Hz, 1H) 5.16 (s, 1 H) 7.19 (m, 10 H). MS (ESI) (M+H-Boc)⁺=563.24.

Step 17 (C): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-phenylpropyl)-4-(propylthio)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.A solution of 4 mmol of propanethiol and 4 mmol (160 mg) of a 60%dispersion of sodium hydride in mineral oil were dissolved in 4 mL ofDMF, and the solution was allowed to stir until the production ofhydrogen gas ceased. A solution of the compound of step 17 (B) (200 mg,0.30 mmol) dissolved in 3 mL of DMF was then treated with 1.5 mL of theabove solution of thiolate anion and the reaction solution was stirredat rt for 16 h. The reaction solution was partitioned between ethylacetate and water, the organic layer was concentrated, and the crudeproduct was purified by chromatography eluting with a gradient of 5 to20% ethyl acetate in hexanes to provide 130 mg (67%) of the desiredthiol and 27 mg (16%) of the corresponding elimination product. ¹H NMR(500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.06 (d, J=29.91 Hz, 6 H) 0.94 (s, 9 H) 0.98 (t,J=7.17 Hz, 3 H) 1.47 (s, 9 H) 1.60 (td, J=14.57, 7.17 Hz, 2 H) 1.69 (s,1 H) 2.13 (s, 2 H) 2.28 (m, 1 H) 2.38 (s, 1 H) 2.52 (s, 2 H) 2.95 (m, 2H) 3.22 (dd, J=43.49, 12.97 Hz, 1 H) 3.91 (m, 1 H) 4.10 (m, 1 H) 4.24(d, J=7.32 Hz, 1 H) 4.77 (m, 1 H) 4.95 (m, 1 H) 7.19 (m, 10 H). MS (ESI)(M+H)⁺=643.35

Step 17 (D): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-phenylpropyl)-4-(propylsulfonyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.A solution of 130 mg (0.2 mmol) of the compound of step 17 (C) dissolvedin 2 mL of methanol was treated with a solution of 240 mg (0.4 mmol) ofoxone dissolved in 0.4 mL of water. After stirring at rt for 30 min, thereaction solution was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water, theorganic layer was concentrated, and the crude product was purified bychromatography eluting with a gradient of 20 to 80% ethyl acetate inhexanes to provide 86 mg (64%) of the desired sulfone and 37 mg (28%) ofthe sulfoxide intermediate as a lower-eluting compound. ¹H NMR (500 MHz,CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.06 (s, 3 H) 0.11 (s, 3 H) 0.96 (s, 9 H) 1.07 (t, J=7.32Hz, 3 H) 1.47 (s, 9 H) 1.87 (dd, J=13.43, 6.71 Hz, 3 H) 2.03 (s, 1 H)2.26 (t, J=12.21 Hz, 1 H) 2.38 (s, 1 H) 2.68 (s, 1 H) 2.90 (s, 2 H) 3.46(m, 2 H) 3.75 (s, 1 H) 4.09 (m, 2 H) 4.26 (d, J=7.02 Hz, 1 H) 4.77 (m, 1H) 4.95 (m, 1 H) 7.18 (m, 10 H) MS (ESI) (M+H-Boc)⁺=575.25

Step 17 (E): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-phenylpropyl)-4-(propylsulfonyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.A 30 mg portion of 10% palladium on carbon was solvated with 5 mL ofMeOH and then 86 mg (0.13 mmol) of the compound of step 17 (D) wasadded. The reaction mixture was placed under 50 psi of hydrogen gas in aParr apparatus and shaken for 3 h. The catalyst was removed byfiltration through a glass fiber filter to provide the amine (68 mg,99%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 0.06 (m, 6 H) 0.93 (s, 9 H) 1.08 (t,J=7.02 Hz, 3 H) 1.47 (s, 9 H) 1.90 (d, J=7.32 Hz, 2 H) 2.27 (m, 1 H)2.35 (dd, J=12.82, 6.71 Hz, 1 H) 2.74 (s, 1 H) 2.90 (m, 3 H) 2.98 (ddd,J=10.68, 5.49, 2.44 Hz, 1 H) 3.13 (d, J=12.21 Hz, 1 H) 3.46 (d, J=8.24Hz, 2 H) 4.00 (s, 1 H) 4.19 (d, J=2.14 Hz, 1 H) 4.30 (s, 1 H) 4.38 (s,1H) 7.22 (m, 5 H). MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺=541.32

Step 17 (F): (2R,4R)-tert-butyl2-((1S,2S)-2-(3-(benzamido)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzamido)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-phenylpropyl)-4-(propylsulfonyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.To a solution of 3-(dipropylcarbamoyl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)benzoic acid(prepared as reported in WO 2002/02512, 20 mg, 0.062 mmol) in DCM isadded HATU (28 mg, 0.073 mmol) and DIEA (33 mg, 0.26 mmol). After thesolution is stirred at rt for 5 min, a 28 mg portion of the compounds ofstep 17 (E) (0.052 mmol) is added. The reaction solution was stirred 16h at rt, and then the reaction solution was partitioned between ethylacetate and water, the organic layer was concentrated, and the crudeproduct was purified by chromatography eluting with a step gradient of20% to 50% to 70% ethyl acetate in hexanes to provide 40 mg (98%) of thedesired amide. MS (ESI) (M+H-Boc)⁺=739.34

Step 17 (G):N¹-((1R,2S)-1-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1-((2R,4R)-4-(propylsulfonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)-N³,N³-dipropylisophthalamide. A 40 mg (0.048 mmol) portion of the compoundof step 17 (F) was dissolved in 1 mL of 4 M HCl in dioxane, and 100 μLof water was added. After stirring at rt for 3 h, the solvents wereremoved and the crude product was purified by prep HLPC under standardconditions to provide 25 mg of the desired product as the TFA salt(84%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCL₃) δ ppm 0.74 (t, J=7.02 Hz, 3 H) 1.04 (t,J=7.02 Hz, 3 H) 1.13 (t, J=7.48 Hz, 3 H) 1.39 (m, 1 H) 1.56 (m, 2 H)1.76 (m, 2 H) 1.90 (td, J=15.26, 7.32 Hz, 2 H) 2.61 (m, 1 H) 2.73 (m, 1H) 2.85 (dd, J=13.73, 11.29 Hz, 1 H) 3.19 (m, 4 H) 3.46 (dd, J=13.89,3.20 Hz, 1 H) 3.52 (t, J=7.02 Hz, 2 H) 3.72 (m, 1 H) 3.80 (m, 1 H) 3.99(ddd, J=11.60, 6.41, 2.44 Hz, 1 H) 4.15 (m, 2 H) 4.25 (m, 1 H) 7.16 (t,J=7.32 Hz, 1 H) 7.25 (t, J=7.63 Hz, 2 H) 7.30 (m, 2 H) 7.37 (d, J=0.61Hz, 1 H) 7.63 (t, J=1.53 Hz, 1 H) 8.06 (s, 1 H) 8.11 (t, J=1.53 Hz, 1 H)8.36 (t, J=1.53 Hz, 1 H) MS (ESI) (M+H)⁺=625.70.

Biological Methods

There are a number of methods by which inhibitors of the BACE enzyme canbe identified experimentally. The enzyme can be obtained from membranesamples from natural tissues or cultured cells or can be expressedrecombinantly in a host cell by well known methods of molecular biology.The whole enzyme or a portion thereof can be expressed, for example, inbacterial, insect or mammalian cells to obtain a catalytically activeenzyme species. The enzymatic activity and/or ligand binding capabilityof the enzyme can be assessed within these membrane samples, or theenzyme can be purified to varying extents. As an illustrative example,the nucleic acid sequence encoding the pro and catalytic domains ofhuman BACE can be appended on the 5′ end with an untranslated and signalsequence from the gene for acetylcholinesterase, and on the 3′ end witha sequence encoding a poly-histidine tag. This cDNA can then beexpressed in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells in which the signal andpro sequences of the transcribed/translated protein are removed bycellular proteases and the catalytic domain, appended by a C-terminalpoly-histidine tag, is secreted out into the cellular medium. The enzymecan then be purified from the culture medium by nickel affinitychromatography by methods well known to those trained in the art[Mallender, W. et al., (2001) “Characterization of recombinant, solublebeta-secretase from an insect cell expression system.” Mol. Pharmacol.59: 619-626]. Similar strategies for expressing and purifying variousforms of BACE in bacterial, mammalian and other cell types would beknown to one skilled in the art. A preferred method for determining thepotency of a test compound in binding to the BACE enzyme is bymonitoring the displacement of a suitable radioligand.

Radioligand displacement assays with a radiolabeled BACE inhibitor (WO2004 013098, compound 3, where the methoxy group is substituted forC(³H)₃) were carried out using standard methods (Keen, M. (1999) inReceptor Binding Techniques (Walker, J. M. ed) p. 106 Humana Press,Totowa, N.J.). The HEK293-9B.A1 cell line, which overexpresses the BACE1enzyme, was derived from HEK293 cells (Simmons, N. L. (1990) A culturedhuman renal epithelioid cell line responsive to vasoactive intestinalpeptide. Exp. Physiol. 75:309-19.) by RAGE™ (Harrington, J. J. et al.(2001) Creation of genome-wide protein expression libraries using randomactivation of gene expression. Nat. Biotechnol. 19:440-5; U.S. Pat. Nos.6,410,266 and 6,361,972). T225 flask cultures of HEK293-9B.A1 were grownto 80% confluency in DMEM supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 10 μg/mlpenicillin, 10 μg/ml streptomycin, 3 μg/mlpuromycin, 100 nMmethotrexate, and 10% fetal bovine serum (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.),harvested, and resuspended at 2×10⁸ cells per 10 ml of lysis bufferconsisting of 50 mM HEPES pH 7.0 containing a protease inhibitorcocktail of AEBSF 104 μM, aprotinin 80 nM, leupeptin 2 μM, bestatin 4μM, pepstatin A 1.5 μM, and E-64 1.4 μM (0.1% of protease inhibitorcocktail P8340, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) at 4° C. The resuspendedcells were homogenized using a Polytron (Brinkman, Westbury, N.Y.) atsetting 6 for 10 sec., then centrifuged at 48,000×g for 10 min. Theresulting pellet was washed by repeating the resuspension,homogenization and centrifugation steps. The final pellet wasresuspended in buffer at 4° C. to yield a total protein concentration of5 mg/ml, then aliquots were frozen in liquid nitrogen for furtherstorage at −70° C. Immediately before carrying out a binding assay, analiquot of cell homogenate was thawed and diluted to a concentration of100 μg/ml in assay buffer consisting of 50 mM HEPES pH 5.0 and 0.1%CHAPSO. Assays were initiated in polypropylene 96-well plates (Costar,Cambridge, Mass.) by the addition of 200 μl of cell homogenate to 50 μlof assay buffer containing 1 nM radioligand (WO 2004 013098, compound 3,where the methoxy group is substituted for C(³H)₃: 80 Ci/mMol) andvarious concentrations of unlabelled compounds, and incubated for 1.5hr. at 25° C. Separation of bound from free radioligand was byfiltration on GFF glass fiber filters (Innotech BiosystemsInternational, Lansing, Mich.) using an Innotech cell harvester. Filterswere washed three times with 0.3 ml of phosphate buffered saline pH 7.0at 4° C. and assessed for radioactivity using a Wallac 1450 Microbetaliquid scintillation counter (PerkinElmer, Boston, Mass.). Ki values ofcompeting compounds were derived through Cheng-Prussoff correction ofIC50 values calculated using XLfit (IDBS, Guildford, UK).

Abbreviations

-   AEBSF: 4-(2-Aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride-   CHAPSO:    3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate-   D-MEM: Dulbecco's modified eagle medium-   HEPES: 4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid-   RAGE™: Random Activation of Gene Expression™

Activity of example compounds of the invention is provided in Table 1,wherein +++ denotes activity of 0.1 μM or greater potency, and ++denotes potency in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 μM.

TABLE 1 Compound of Activity Example Rating^(a) 7 ++ 11 +++ 12 +++ 17+++ ^(a)Activity based on IC₅₀ values: +++ = <0.1 μM ++ = 0.1-1.0 μMIn vitro assay to identify β-secretase inhibitor based on the inhibitionof Aβ formation from membrane preparations.

An isolated membrane fraction which contains functionally activeβ-secretase and β-APP substrates can generate β-secretase cleavageproducts including Aβ (Roberts, S. B.; Hendrick, J. P.; Vinitsky, A.;Lewis, M.; Smith, D. W.; Pak, R. PCT Publication WO 01/0175435;Fechteler, K.; Kostka, M.; Fuchs, M. Patent Application No. DE99-19941039; Shearman, M.; Beher, D. et al., Biochemistry, 2000, 39,8698-8704; Zhang, L. Song, L. et al., Biochemistry 2001, 40, 5049-5055).An isolated membrane fraction can be prepared from human derived celllines such as HeLa and H4 which have been transfected with wild type ormutant forms of β-APP or a human alkaline phosphatase β-APP fusionconstruct, and stably express high levels of β-secretase substrates. Theendogenous β-secretase present in the isolated membranes prepared at0-4° C. cleaves the β-APP substrates when the membranes are shifted from0-4 to 37° C. Detection of the cleavage products including Aβ can bemonitored by standard techniques such as immunoprecipitation (Citron,M.; Diehl, T. S. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1996, 93,13170-13175), western blot (Klafki, H.-W.; Ambramowski, D. et al., J.Biol. Chem. 1996, 271, 28655-28659), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) as demonstrated by Seubert, P.; Vigo-Pelfrey, C. et al., Nature,1992, 359, 325-327, or by a preferred method using time-resolvedfluorescence of the homogeneous sample containing membranes and Aβ(Roberts, S. B.; Hendrick, J. P.; Vinitsky, A.; Lewis, M.; Smith, D. W.;Pak, R. PCT Publication WO 01/0175435; Shearman, M.; Beher, D. et al.,Biochemistry, 2000, 39, 8698-8704). The Aβ present in a homogeneoussample containing membranes can be detected by time-resolvedfluorescence with two antibodies that recognize different epitopes ofAβ. One of the antibodies recognizes an epitope that is present in Aβbut not present in the precursor fragments; preferably the antibodybinds the carboxyl terminus of Aβ generated by the β-secretase cleavage.The second antibody binds to any other epitope present on Aβ. Forexample, antibodies that bind the N-terminal region (e.g., 26D6-B2-B3®SIBIA Neurosciences, La Jolla, Calif.) or bind the C-terminal end (e.g.,9S3.2® antibody, Biosolutions, Newark, Del.) of the Aβ peptide areknown. The antibodies are labeled with a pair of fluorescent adductsthat transfer fluorescent energy when the adducts are brought in closeproximity as a result of binding to the N- and C-terminal ends orregions of Aβ. A lack of fluorescence is indicative of the absence ofcleavage products, resulting from inhibition of β-secretase. Theisolated membrane assay can be used to identify candidate agents thatinhibit the activity of β-secretase cleavage and Aβ production.

A typical membrane-based assay requires 45 μg membrane protein per wellin a 96- or 384-well format. Membranes in a neutral buffer are combinedwith the test compound and shifted from 0-4 to 37° C. Test agents maytypically consist of synthetic compounds, secondary metabolites frombacterial or fungal fermentation extracts, or extracts from plant ormarine samples. All synthetic agents are initially screened at dosesranging from 10-100 μM or in the case of extracts at sufficient dilutionto minimize cytotoxicity. Incubation of the membranes with the testagent will continue for approximately 90 minutes at which timefluorescence labeled antibodies are added to each well for Aβquantitation. The time-resolved fluorescence detection and quantitationof Aβ is described elsewhere (Roberts, S. B.; Hendrick, J. P.; Vinitsky,A.; Lewis, M.; Smith, D. W.; Pak, R. PCT Publication WO 01/0175435;Shearman, M.; Beher, D. et al., Biochemistry, 2000. 39, 8698-8704).Results are obtained by analysis of the plate in a fluorescence platereader and comparison to the mock treated membranes and samples in whichknown amounts of Aβ were added to construct a standard concentrationcurve. A positive acting compound is one that inhibits the Aβ relativeto the control sample by at least 50% at the initial testedconcentration. Compounds of the present application are consideredactive when tested in the above assay if the IC₅₀ value for the testcompound is less than 50 μM. A preferred IC₅₀ value is less than 1 μM. Amore preferred IC₅₀ value is less than 0.1 μM. If a compound is found tobe active then a dose response experiment is performed to determine thelowest dose of compound necessary to elicit the inhibition of theproduction of Aβ.

In Vivo Assays for the Determination of Aβ Reduction by A β-SecretaseInhibitor.

In vivo assays are available to demonstrate the inhibition ofβ-secretase activity. In these assays, animals, such as mice, thatexpress normal levels of APP, β- and γ-secretase or are engineered toexpress higher levels of APP and hence Aβ can be used to demonstrate theutility of β-secretase inhibitors, as demonstrated with γ-secretaseinhibitors [Dovey, H. et al., (2001), J. Neurochem. 76: 173-181]. Inthese assays, β-secretase inhibitors are administered to animals and Aβlevels in multiple compartments, such as plasma, cerebral spinal fluid,and brain extracts, are monitored for Aβ levels using methods previouslyoutlined. For instance, Tg2576 mice, which overexpress human APP, areadministered β-secretase inhibitors by oral gavage at doses that willcause measurable Aβ lowering, typically less than 100 mg/kg. Three hoursafter dosing plasma, brain, and CSF are collected, frozen in liquidnitrogen, and stored at −80° C. until analysis. For Aβ detection, plasmais diluted 15-fold in PBS with 0.1% Chaps while CSF is diluted 15-foldin 1% Chaps with protease inhibitors (5 μg/ml leupeptin, 30 μg/mlaprotinin, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, 1 μM pepstatin). Brainsare homogenized in 1% Chaps with protease inhibitors using 24 mlsolution/g brain tissue. Homogenates were then centrifuged at 100,000×gfor 1 hr at 4° C. The resulting supernatants were then diluted 10-foldin 1% Chaps with protease inhibitors. Aβ levels in the plasma, CSF, andbrain lysate can then be measured using time-resolved fluorescence ofthe homogenous sample or one of the other methods previously described.

A β-secretase inhibitor is considered active in one of the above in vivoassays if it reduces Aβ by at least 50% at a dosage of 100 mg/kg.

Dosage and Formulation

The compounds of the present application can be administered orallyusing any pharmaceutically acceptable dosage form known in the art forsuch administration. The active ingredient can be supplied in soliddosage forms such as dry powders, granules, tablets or capsules, or inliquid dosage forms, such as syrups or aqueous suspensions. The activeingredient can be administered alone, but is generally administered witha pharmaceutical carrier. A valuable treatise with respect topharmaceutical dosage forms is Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, MackPublishing.

The compounds of the present application can be administered in suchoral dosage forms as tablets, capsules (each of which includes sustainedrelease or timed release formulations), pills, powders, granules,elixirs, tinctures, suspensions, syrups, and emulsions. Likewise, theymay also be administered in intravenous (bolus or infusion),intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular form, all using dosageforms well known to those of ordinary skill in the pharmaceutical arts.An effective but non-toxic amount of the compound desired can beemployed to prevent or treat neurological disorders related to β-amyloidproduction or accumulation, such as Alzheimer's disease and Down'sSyndrome.

The compounds of this application can be administered by any means thatproduces contact of the active agent with the agent's site of action inthe body of a host, such as a human or a mammal. They can beadministered by any conventional means available for use in conjunctionwith pharmaceuticals, either as individual therapeutic agents or in acombination of therapeutic agents. They can be administered alone, butgenerally administered with a pharmaceutical carrier selected on thebasis of the chosen route of administration and standard pharmaceuticalpractice.

The dosage regimen for the compounds of the present application will, ofcourse, vary depending upon known factors, such as the pharmacodynamiccharacteristics of the particular agent and its mode and route ofadministration; the species, age, sex, health, medical condition, andweight of the recipient; the nature and extent of the symptoms; the kindof concurrent treatment; the frequency of treatment; the route ofadministration, the renal and hepatic function of the patient, and theeffect desired. An ordinarily skilled physician or veterinarian canreadily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the drugrequired to prevent, counter, or arrest the progress of the condition.

Advantageously, compounds of the present application may be administeredin a single daily dose, or the total daily dosage may be administered individed doses of two, three, or four times daily.

The compounds for the present application can be administered inintranasal form via topical use of suitable intranasal vehicles, or viatransdermal routes, using those forms of transdermal skin patches wellknown to those of ordinary skill in that art. To be administered in theform of a transdermal delivery system, the dosage administration will,of course, be continuous rather than intermittant throughout the dosageregimen.

In the methods of the present application, the compounds hereindescribed in detail can form the active ingredient, and are typicallyadministered in admixture with suitable pharmaceutical diluents,excipients, or carriers (collectively referred to herein as carriermaterials) suitably selected with respect to the intended form ofadministration, that is, oral tablets, capsules, elixirs, syrups and thelike, and consistent with conventional pharmaceutical practices.

For instance, for oral administration in the form of a tablet orcapsule, the active drug component can be combined with an oral,non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable, inert carrier such as lactose,starch, sucrose, glucose, methyl callulose, magnesium stearate,dicalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, mannitol, sorbitol and the like;for oral administration in liquid form, the oral drug components can becombined with any oral, non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable inertcarrier such as ethanol, glycerol, water, and the like. Moreover, whendesired or necessary, suitable binders, lubricants, disintegratingagents, and coloring agents can also be incorporated into the mixture.Suitable binders include starch, gelatin, natural sugars such as glucoseor β-lactose, corn sweeteners, natural and synthetic gums such asacacia, tragacanth, or sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose,polyethylene glycol, waxes, and the like. Lubricants used in thesedosage forms include sodium oleate, sodium stearate, magnesium stearate,sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, and the like.Disintegrators include, without limitation, starch, methyl cellulose,agar, bentonite, xanthan gum, and the like.

The compounds of the present disclosure can also be administered in theform of liposome delivery systems, such as small unilamellar vesicles,large unilamallar vesicles, and multilamellar vesicles. Liposomes can beformed from a variety of phospholipids, such as cholesterol,stearylamine, or phosphatidylcholines.

Compounds of the present disclosure may also be coupled with solublepolymers as targetable drug carriers. Such polymers can includepolyvinylpyrrolidone, pyran copolymer,polyhydroxypropylmethacrylamide-phenol,polyhydroxyethylaspartamidephenol, or polyethyleneoxide-polylysinesubstituted with palmitoyl residues. Furthermore, the compounds of thepresent disclosure may be coupled to a class of biodegradable polymersuseful in achieving controlled release of a drug, for example,polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, copolymers of polylactic andpolyglycolic acid, polyepsilon caprolactone, polyhydroxy butyric acid,polyorthoesters, polyacetals, polydihydropyrans, polycyanoacylates, andcrosslinked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels.

Gelatin capsules may contain the active ingredient and powderedcarriers, such as lactose, starch, cellulose derivatives, magnesiumstearate, stearic acid, and the like. Similar diluents can be used tomake compressed tablets. Both tablets and capsules can be manufacturedas sustained release products to provide for continuous release ofmedication over a period of hours. Compressed tablets can be sugarcoated or film coated to mask any unpleasant taste and protect thetablet from the atmosphere, or enteric coated for selectivedisintegration in the gastrointestinal tract. Liquid dosage forms fororal administration can contain coloring and flavoring to increasepatient acceptance.

In general, water, a suitable oil, saline, aqueous dextrose (glucose),and related sugar solutions and glycols such as propylene glycol orpolyethylene glycols are suitable carriers for parenteral solutions.Solutions for parenteral administration preferably contain a watersoluble salt of the active ingredient, suitable stabilizing agents, andif necessary, buffer substances. Antioxidizing agents such as sodiumbisulfite, sodium sulfite, or ascorbic acid, either alone or combined,are suitable stabilizing agents. Also used are citric acid and its saltsand sodium EDTA. In addition, parenteral solutions can containpreservatives, such as benzalkonium chloride, methyl- or propyl-paraben,and chlorobutanol.

Suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, a standard referencetext in this field.

1. The compound, or a stereoisomer thereof, which isN¹-((1R,2S)-1-hydroxy-3 -phenyl-1-((2R,4R)-4-(propylsulfonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)-5-(oxazol-2-yl)-N³, N³-dipropylisophthalamide and having the formula:

or a nontoxic pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.